Cotton Expresses ‘Grave Doubts’
On Obama Counter-terrorism Efforts
On Obama Counter-terrorism Efforts
Transcript:
"I rise today to express grave doubts about the Obama administration's counterterrorism policies and programs. Counterterrorism is often shrouded in secrecy, as it should be, so let us judge by the results. In barely four years in office, five Jihadists have reached their targets in the United States under Barack Obama: the Boston Marathon bomber, the underwear bomber, the Times Square Bomber, the Fort Hood shooter, and in my own state—the Little Rock recruiting office shooter. In the seven years after 9/11 under George W. Bush, how many terrorists reached their target in the United States? Zero! We need to ask "why is the Obama administration failing in its mission to stop terrorism before it reaches its targets in the United States."
Peter Urban, Stephens Washington Bureau — Freshman Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, said on the House floor Wednesday that he has “grave doubts” about the Obama administration’s counterterrorism policies and programs in the aftermath of the Boston bombings.
“In barely four years in office, five jihadists have reached their targets in the United States under Barack Obama,” he said. “In the over seven years after 9/11 under George W. Bush, how many terrorists reached their target in the United States? Zero.”
Cotton spoke Wednesday during a period of time set aside for lawmakers to make brief statements on the House floor. He said that Congress needs to ask why the Obama administration is “failing in its mission to stop terrorism before it reaches its targets.”
Cotton was referring to:
• Last week’s bombing along the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
• The June 1, 2009, shooting at a Little Rock military recruiting office that left one dead and another injured.
• The Nov. 5, 2009, mass murder at Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas.
• The 2009 Christmas Day failed plot to explode an “underwear bomb” on a flight approaching Detroit.
• A foiled attempt on May 1, 2010, to explode a car bomb in Times Square.
In tallying terrorist attacks, Cotton did not include Richard Reid, a British citizen who in 2001 — while Bush was in office — failed in an attempt to blow up a plane headed from Paris to Miami with a shoe bomb. Passengers subdued him on the plane above the Atlantic Ocean.
Cotton’s concerns echoed those raised earlier this week by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Counterterrorism and Intelligence subcommittee chairman Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y.
In a letter to high-ranking members of the Obama administration, the pair wrote that Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev appears to be the fifth person since Sept. 11, 2001, to participate in terror attacks despite being under FBI investigation. » Full Article
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Biography
Tom Cotton represents the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas. A native of Dardanelle, Tom graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law School. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals and practiced law before joining the United States Army as an infantry officer. Tom spent nearly five years on active duty, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom’s military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Ranger tab. Most recently, Tom worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. He began his first term in Congress in January 2013 and currently sits on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. » Full Bio