[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1958]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             FOREIGN POLICY

  Mr. THUNE. 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.
  Six years of indecision, mistakes, and Presidential irresolution has 
diminished America's image with our allies. The triumph of the 
President's political calculus over clear military and diplomatic 
objectives has made the world less safe, not more. Now more than ever 
we need a clearly articulated foreign policy from the President and the 
commitment to back it up.
  Later this week we will consider the nomination of Ash Carter to be 
Secretary of Defense. Dr. Carter seems to be a very capable individual, 
and I believe he will serve our country well. But changing personnel 
alone won't fix the President's foreign policy problems. Even a very 
capable Secretary of Defense cannot succeed if his hands are tied by 
the lack of a coherent strategy from the President.
  As crises multiply around the world, the President needs to provide 
the leadership that is required from our Commander in Chief. Whether it 
is defeating ISIS, standing up to Russia, or confronting Iran's nuclear 
ambition, it is high time we saw the leadership from our President that 
our country needs and deserves.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Flake). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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