Pittenger: Changing personnel won't fix weak foreign policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN PITTENGER: CHANGING DEFENSE SECRETARIES WON’T FIX FOREIGN POLICY MISTAKES

CHARLOTTE – Congressman Robert Pittenger, Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, had this reaction to the resignation of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel:

“President Obama’s foreign policy of appeasement and apology has created the vacuum in which ISIS exploded into a major national security threat, Russia forcefully annexed part of Ukraine, and the Syrian crisis spiraled out of control.

“Shuffling personnel will do nothing to address the underlying problem, which is President Obama’s lack of common sense when it comes to world affairs.  America’s withdraw from the world stage is seen as an opportunity by those bent on evil.

“America and the world have known peace when America was strong.  Currently, even our closest allies don’t know if they can trust America, and we are all in danger.

“Secretary Hagel honorably served America as a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, as a dedicated Senator, and as Secretary of Defense, where he worked hard to serve our brave men and women stationed around the world.  We thank him for his service.

“Hopefully, the next Secretary of Defense will be allowed a seat at President Obama’s inner circle and breathe fresh air into a foreign policy that has been allowed to stagnate.”

As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, Congressman Pittenger (NC-09) earlier this year hosted a major gathering of 100 Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, and other officials from 28 European nations to discuss intelligence policy and to forge stronger relationships in the fight against ISIS.

Congressman Pittenger has also met privately with several heads of state, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, to better understand how the world views America and President Obama’s foreign policy.

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