On the recordFebruary 10, 2015
Mr. President, I would also like to take a few minutes today to discuss the President's foreign policy or lack thereof. ``Lack thereof'' seems to be the most accurate description of the President's lead-from-behind foreign policy. Whether it is a Russian proxy war in Ukraine or the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the President is slow to respond and unclear about American goals even when he does. Months after the ascension of ISIS--a terrorist organization so radical that even Al Qaeda considers it to be too extreme--the President still hasn't laid out a strategy for combating this threat. ISIS represents a horrifying new nadir in the annals of terrorism. There is apparently no act of brutality this organization rejects. Yet a clear plan for defeating ISIS has yet to be articulated. This week the President is finally supposed to send Congress an authorization for the use of military force against ISIS. I look forward to examining that authorization. Since ISIS first emerged, the President has had the authority he needs to go after this terrorist group, but I think seeking additional authorization from Congress is wise, and I hope it will help define his strategy for combating this enemy and supporting our partners in this fight. America clearly cannot fix all the world's problems, but we can help. We can build a coalition, and we can lead. We can give our commanders in the field the tools they need to meet our clear and growing threats.…





