Roby: ‘ISIS is al Qaeda on steroids,’ adhere to ‘bastardized, barbaric form of Islam’

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL2) on Wednesday had some strong words for the Obama administration, whose foreign policy failures she believes have left the United States looking weak on the international stage.

“Every American should be concerned about our international standing and our diminished ability to shape world events rather than be shaped by them,” said Roby. “It disturbs me to see statements by President Obama and top Administration officials downplaying or dismissing the threat of Islamic terrorism. The threat is real, it is growing, and it must be dealt with before it’s too late.”

Roby listed several specific events that she believes indicate a rise of Islamic terrorism around the globe, as well as a lack of leadership from the United States:

1. The growing threat from the self identified “Islamic State,” better known as ISIS;
2. The evacuation of the American embassy in Tripoli, Libya, and subsequent occupation by Islamic militants;
3. Increased terror attacks across the African continent, specifically in Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali and Tunisia;
4. Russian-alligned forces in Ukraine showing no signs of backing down despite tough talk from the United Nations.

“What’s happening across the African continent is no accident,” she said. “The continued aggression of Russian forces in Ukraine isn’t a coincidence. The rise of Islamic fascism is not a random occurrence. Rather, they are the result of the inconsistent, incoherent messages we’ve been sending abroad.

“We draw ‘red lines,’ and do nothing when they are crossed. We outsource tough foreign policy decisions to the woefully weak United Nations. We hollow out our military force with drastic cuts that compromise our readiness. We fail to secure our borders or enforce immigration laws. We negotiate with the Taliban and strike deals to release hardened terrorists who return to the battlefield.

“These actions project weakness and invite our enemies to test our resolve. The United States must reverse course and demonstrate the kind of strength that used to be feared and respected the world over.”

But Roby reserved her most pointed rhetoric for ISIS, the terrorist group that seemingly came out of nowhere to sweep across large swaths of Syria and Iraq, leaving a path of devastation in their wake.

“ISIS is al Qaeda on steroids,” Roby said emphatically. “When the tactics ISIS uses are so brutal that al Qaeda denounces them, we are talking about a next-level terrorist ideology. Even worse, this group is well-funded, well-organized and has demonstrated military-style skills and discipline.

“As always, the United States must learn from the past. Appeasing groups that seek a cultural, religious or ethnic ‘cleansing’ only emboldens them. ISIS is killing anyone who does not conform to its bastardized, barbaric form of Islam, and they will not stop unless they are ended.”

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