Santorum Calls for U.S. Air Strikes against ISIS Forces in Iraq

Verona, PA -- Former U.S. Senator, former Republican presidential candidate, author of Blue Collar Conservatives and Patriot Voices Chairman Rick Santorum today issued the following statement on the crisis in Iraq:

"President Obama's policies in the Mideast - and particularly in Iraq - have proven to be a disaster, and are now putting the lives and interests of U.S. citizens, our Arab allies, and Israel in grave danger," said Santorum, who sat on the Senate Armed Services Committee for eight years and wrote the Iran Freedom and Support Act and the Syria Accountability Act.

"The President has told us repeatedly over the last several years that 'al Qaeda is on the run' and 'we have decimated al Qaeda.' But the fact is "Al Qaeda In Iraq" - aka, ISIS - is stronger than ever and moving fast to conquer Baghdad and establish a Radical Islamic terrorist caliphate in the heart of the Arab world.

"In 2011, I warned that the President's foolish and reckless Iraq policy - especially his inability to build an effective working relationship with the Iraqi leadership, and his decision to precipitously withdraw all U.S. military forces out of Iraq by the end 2011 - meant the U.S. would lose the war in Iraq, and create an environment into which other Radical Islamic forces would be drawn in, including Iran. That now appears to be true.

"We should not partner with Iran in this crisis as Secretary of State John Kerry has suggested is a viable option. Iran poses a grave danger to U.S. national security, to Israel and to our Arab allies in the Middle East.

"Furthermore, the United States must not allow Radical Sunni forces like ISIS to seize control of Iraq. This would create a base camp from which to export terrorism, attack American citizens, destabilize our Arab allies, attack Israel, terrorize the Iraqi people, drive up the price of oil, and seriously harm our economy. Nor can we allow the Radical Shia leaders of Iran to exploit the situation and gain effective control over Iraq.

"I support the United States launching air strikes against ISIS forces and assisting the Iraqis with real-time intelligence on the movement of ISIS forces. We should also evacuate our Embassy and all American civilians in Iraq so we don't allow a hostage situation to develop.

"President Obama hasn't left us with good options, but one thing is clear: we must move rapidly to slow down the ISIS advance, change the dynamic on the ground, and buy time," Santorum concluded.