http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/?hp=Mike Rogers: 'Don’t do stupid stuff' isn’t working
By ADAM SNEED |
8/31/14 9:51 AM EDT
Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that the president’s "don't do stupid stuff" approach to foriegn affairs isn't working, and the White House's response to multiple international crises is causing problems for allies.
Appearing on “Fox News Sunday” with Chris Wallace, the Michigan Republican said President Barack Obama needs a stronger response to provocations from Russia and China, and to the terrorist threat from Islamic militants in Syria and Iraq.
“This is an opportunity for the president… to bring the country together so that we understand this ‘don’t do stupid stuff’ policy isn’t working,” he said. “If the world perceives that the United States does not have a consistent policy of saying what it means and meaning what it says, you’re going to see more of this pressure.”
Rogers slammed the president for not taking strong enough action against Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and for taking too long to respond to the growing threat of Islamic militants in Syria and Iraq. He said the perceived weakness of the response has encouraged China to push limits in international waters, and forced the United Kingdom to increase its security measures in the face of threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
“The United States seems to be in the malaise of not being that concerned,” he said. “If you have your own European allies saying, ‘Maybe the United States isn’t a leader on this issue,’ that’s a problem for us.”
