WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued this statement Sunday following President Obama’s address on the threat of terrorism and the fight against ISIS:
“On Sept. 4, 2014, President Obama stated America’s goal was to ‘degrade and ultimately defeat’ ISIS. I immediately stated that I agreed with that goal and that I would back the president once he laid out and fully committed to an effective strategy to accomplish it. To date — and tonight’s status-quo speech was no exception — he has done neither.
“As is often the case, tonight I agreed with much of what President Obama said. Unfortunately, far too often the president’s actions do not match his words. That will undoubtedly be the case again.
“It has been 15 months since President Obama stated his goal. The recent string of terror attacks — the Russian airliner blown out of the sky over Egypt, the Beirut bombing, and the attacks in Paris, Mali, and now San Bernardino — prove that ISIS is neither a “JV team” nor contained. Fifteen months without defining and committing to a winning strategy is simply too long.
“Every day that ISIS is not overtly losing, it is perceived as winning, and it will continue to inspire and gain adherents throughout the world. ISIS, every form of Islamic terror, and every Islamic terrorist organization must be pursued and defeated — the sooner the better.
“I stand ready to support the president as soon as he fully commits to a winning and decisive strategy.”