McCain: Al Qaeda 'Incredible Threat' Because of Lack of US Leadership

On Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Al Qaeda, contrary to the Obama administration’s previous assertions, was still an “incredible threat” in the Middle East and to Americans. 

When asked about the U.S. embassies and consulates the United States will reopen this weekend, McCain said Obama was engaging in verbal “gymnastics” when he said America had destroyed the “core Al Qaeda” before he closed U.S. embassies last weekend throughout the Muslim world. 

McCain said Al Qaeda is “strengthening every day in every way because of a lack of American leadership and policy.” He said Obama has two foreign policies. The first is a “not Bush” policy and the second is one of “withdrawing.” 

“When you do that, then things get a lost worse,” he said. “Without a strong policy, we are in trouble.”

As an example, McCain cited Obama’s declaration that there would be a “red line” Syria could not cross regarding the use of chemical weapons. McCain said when it was discovered that Syria did use chemical weapons, there were hardly any consequences for doing so.