[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, President Obama's approach to national 
security policy began with unworkable ideas on the campaign trail, and 
it has been marked by some consistent themes, like inflexible 
commitments to drawing down our conventional military posture from 
across the globe, like an excessive reliance on international 
organizations, like a tendency toward the use of Special Operations 
forces to train and equip units in other countries.
  What do we see as we look back now at the twilight of his Presidency? 
We have seen increased instability in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, 
and Yemen. We have seen the evolution of Al Qaeda in Iraq into ISIL and 
its expansion into Libya, Syria, and the Sinai.
  In just a few short months, the next Commander in Chief, regardless 
of party, will be faced with the consequences of the President's failed 
foreign policy and will need to adapt an insufficient defense 
modernization program to tackle both the challenges posed by terrorism 
and by adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.
  This is why we need to use the remaining months of this 
administration to help prepare the next administration, regardless of 
party, to deal with the news it is about to inherit. That is what we 
are doing on the floor right now. The Defense bill before us will 
modernize our military and provide our troops with more of the tools 
they need to confront the threats we face. It will help prepare the 
next Commander in Chief to confront the complex challenges of today and 
of tomorrow. It is serious policy--policy that will keep our country 
safe, and after years of this administration's spin and failures, that 
is what our people deserve.

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