Thune: Obama hasn’t explained plan to defeat ISIS

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Tuesday criticized President Obama’s foreign policy, saying the commander in chief has failed to put forward a plan for defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“We still haven’t seen a comprehensive strategy from the president for confronting and defeating ISIS,” Thune said from the Senate floor. “The president should have articulated a plan to responding to ISIS months ago.”

{mosads}The South Dakota Republican’s remarks followed reports that the terrorist group kidnapped at least 90 Christians in northern Syria.

“My heart sinks each time I hear any report of abductions of this nature because we know the fate that is likely in store… Evil like this cannot be ignored, it must be confronted,” Thune said.

The administration submitted an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for the fight against ISIS to Congress earlier this month. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced concern about the proposal.

Obama has faced a range of criticism from lawmakers over his foreign policy—including his handling of the crisis in Ukraine and concerns over talks with Iran on its nuclear program.

Thune said the lack of a “comprehensive strategy” against ISIS is the latest foreign policy misstep by the president.

“Time and time again, the president has been confronted with a foreign policy crisis and simply failed to respond,” he said. “It’s time for the president to step up and start leading, we cannot afford for him to sit on the sidelines any longer.”