[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           LACK OF LEADERSHIP

  (Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, we're living in a dangerous world 
abroad, with challenging economic times at home, but America has been 
here before.
  On Tuesday, Americans witnessed the embarrassing and dangerous 
results of this administration's lack of a coherent foreign policy: 
Vladimir Putin filled the global leadership void. What happens next 
with Syria and that region is anyone's guess, but it's clear that 
America is not in the driver's seat.
  The President failed to convince me--and most of the American 
people--that military action in Syria is in our best interests. This 
debate was not conducted from a position of foreign policy strength 
because Syria was allowed to fester. Flawed attempts at coalition 
building failed.
  Iran is ever closer to a nuclear bomb. Iran funds terrorist 
organizations. Iran's influence in the region is significant. And a 
Middle Eastern arms race would likely follow, the results of which 
could be catastrophic.
  The world is looking to America for leadership. The American people 
are looking to this President for leadership. Mr. President, it's time 
for you to step up to the plate.

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