Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee made the following statement prior to the President's State of the Union address.
“Tonight the President will inform Congress on the state of our union. It is my hope that he speaks to an area of concern for many Americans, one reflected in November’s election. Our national security, and the relative peace we earned after the Cold War, is in danger.
“Consider that hours before the President’s remarks, the State Department issued a travel advisory for Libya and we learned of a potential terrorist coup in Yemen. It’s been a busy day for the Obama Doctrine. Reality has overtaken the wishful thinking on Pennsylvania Avenue.
“President Obama has not adequately addressed our national security needs. He told us terrorism was on the run. He pulled back America’s presence in places like Iraq and restricted presence in Yemen. That's allowed much greater dangers to be pulled into that void.
“Without US leadership, there is a vacuum that becomes a breeding ground for groups like ISIL and al Qaeda. In this case, Iran has also taken advantage of the vacuum supporting their proxies in the region and are taking advantage of the United States' failed policies in Yemen and the Middle East.
“The President’s premature withdrawal from Iraq help set the stage for ISIL. His restricted policy in Yemen set the stage for a terrorist surge. We’re hampered in our response to one crisis because we’re spending resources on another crisis. Both were preventable.
"The failure of our strategy in places like Yemen, Iraq, and Syria is what gives members who are concerned about the wide release of Guantanamo Bay detainees pause. I am encouraged that Members like Jackie Walorski are working with Senator Ayotte to take another look at transfer restrictions.
"I hope the President now does what is necessary to protect America and her interests. He has a great opportunity to speak to that this evening."
