[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN POLICY SCORECARD
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) for 5 minutes.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the President's foreign policy has been
disastrous for more than 6 years. If you are keeping score at home on
this deal with Iran, feel free to add another major error in the box
score, labeled, ``The Failed Obama Doctrine.''
President Obama's insistence on force-feeding a deal with Iran is
troubling. The unrelenting attempt to boost his legacy has created a
gross lack of discernment. The President and his State Department have
left a trail of detrimental decisions with deteriorating relationships
throughout the world.
How can we forget the President's blurred red lines in demanding that
Syria's Assad end his human rights violation? After the President drew
his line in the sand, Assad responded with the bombing of hospitals and
the use of chemical weapons against his own people.
The President has failed to show any initiative or strategy and has
consistently attempted to lead from behind. Meanwhile, of all people,
Russia's Vladimir Putin was the one who intervened in this
international crisis.
Speaking of Putin, the President's posture with Putin has been
pitiful.
Of course, it was President Obama who mocked Presidential candidate
Mitt Romeny's 1980s concern of Russia being a threat. Maybe it is time
President Obama revisited Ronald Reagan's foreign policy of the 1980s.
Wasn't it Vice President Joe Biden that claimed the President's work
in Iraq would be one of the greatest achievements of this
administration?
Syria, Russia, Benghazi, Iraq, ISIS, and we are supposed to be
excited about a deal with the world's leader in state-sponsored
terrorism. All the while, we have given the cold shoulder to Israel,
our greatest ally in the Middle East for generations, as we have
listened to, over the weekend, shouts from Iran, ``Death to Israel.
Death to America.''
The great majority of Americans had hoped that our President would
find the strength to increase the sanctions on Iran rather than remove
them and surrender control of inspections to Iran. As a Member of
Congress, I will stand against any agreement that doesn't completely
strip Iran of all nuclear capability.
While we are at it, Mr. President, maybe it is time to stop ignoring
the imprisonment of Saeed Abedini, Jason Rezaian, Bob Levinson, and
Amir Hekmati, our four Americans in Iran. Both the House and the Senate
have showed compassion and strength demanding these Americans return
home to their families. Saeed has been held for over 1,000 days while
his children plead for his release.
I agree with the President when he exclaimed: ``We should always do
everything in our power to bring these Americans home safe.''
Mr. President, it is time to honor the commitment you have made to
these men, these families, and to all Americans.
{time} 1030
May I close with the words of the Prime Minister of Israel in
agreeing that this is ``a mistake of historic proportion.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks
to the Chair.
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