(CNSNews.com) – Isolationism “will lead to another 9/11,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
He said the problem with the Obama-Clinton regime was a failure to intervene when they should have:
“Obama did not intervene in Iraq. We had Iraq in a good place. He withdrew all of our forces, against sound military advice.
“He didn’t intervene in Syria. His entire national security team advised President Obama to help the Free Syrian Army when Assad was on the ropes. He took a pass.
“That’s how ISIL came about. ISIL came about because of poor foreign policy choices by President Obama. Leading from behind is not working.”
Graham urged Republicans, “Do not buy the siren song of isolationism.” In his view, “globalization is here to stay.”
He said Islamic State terrorists are waging a “religious war,” and they are “compelled by their faith…to attack us. So if you withdraw from the world, they’re coming here.
“I choose to fight them in their backyard, so we don’t have to fight them in our backyard. I choose to fight them with partners.
“Don’t say that we should ban all Muslims to come to America, because it would be hard to get Muslims to fight with you in the Mideast, where ISIL exists. Don’t declare war on the religion. Declare war on radical Islam.”
Graham, who has endorsed the conservative Republican candidate, was arguing that isolationism is not a conservative position.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has said he will “exert leadership on the global stage, not withdraw from it.” He also has called for “fiercely” defending U.S. allies and interests; and judging each challenge by what is best for America.
Donald Trump on Sunday said it’s time for the United States to stop “defending the world” because “this country can’t afford to do it.”
“And what we’ve got to do is we’ve got to knock off ISIS, and we’ve got to at some point get out of there, because we have to rebuild our country. Our country is becoming Third World, our airports, our roadways, our train systems.”
