Thursday, July 3, 2014
9:40 AM
Johnson: Lack of stabilizing force in Iraq 'huge strategic blunder'
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Wednesday the Obama administration's failure "to leave a stabilizing force behind" in Iraq "was a huge strategic blunder" that could result in a partitioned country that will empower Iran and Al Qaeda.
Johnson, R-Oshkosh, told a WisPolitics.com luncheon in Milwaukee that the United States was "well on its way" to achieving the goal of establishing "a coalition government in a shared goal of shared prosperity."
Added Johnson, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "I think we were well on our way to achieving that goal, and that's what we squandered."
He also said the United States needs to do more to help the Kurds, the Israelis and the Ukrainians.
"We need to show far greater strength and resolve ... because when America doesn't lead, there are huge voids and vacuums created in the world, and those vacuums and voids are filled with very bad people," said Johnson.
See more from the luncheon in Wednesday's PM Update.
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