Graham enters 2016 White House race to ‘defeat the enemies trying to kill us’’

The Hill

By Jonathan Easley

June 1, 2015

Graham enters 2016 White House race to ‘defeat the enemies trying to kill us’’ 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday, vowing to defend the nation through a muscular foreign policy.

“I want to be president to defeat the enemies trying to kill us, not just penalize them or criticize them or contain them, but defeat them,” Graham said from his hometown of Central, S.C.

Graham is one of the foremost national security hawks in the GOP and is running almost exclusively on his foreign policy bona fides. He cited his experience in the Senate on the Armed Services Committee, as a reserve officer in the U.S. Air Force, and countless trips to the Middle East as evidence he’s the strongest candidate on foreign policy.

“I’m running for president because I am ready to be commander-in-chief on day one,” he said. “I’m ready on day one to defend our nation with sound strategy, a strong military, stable alliances, and steady determination.”

“I have one simple message,” he continued. “I have more experience with our national security than any other candidate.

[…] Last week, Graham visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and announced that he will retire from the Air Force Reserve after more than 30 years in the military. His allies have launched a super-PAC called Security Is Strength to boost his bid.

“I know the players, I know our friends and our enemies alike,” Graham said. “But most importantly, they know me. I have listened, learned and prepared myself for the job of commander-in-chief.”

[…] Rubio has similarly made a hawkish national security platform his calling card, and rocketed near the top of the GOP field since launching his presidential campaign in mid-April.

Graham’s first priority will be to qualify for the GOP debates. Fox News and CNN are capping the number of candidates for their first debates at 10, based on national polling numbers.

[…] In his speech, Graham warned that “radical Islam is running wild,” and argued that the “we must take the fight to them,” before terrorists launch another attack on the U.S.

“They have more safe havens, more money, more weapons and more capability to strike our homeland than anytime since 9/11,” Graham said. “They are large, rich and entrenched. As president, I will make them small, poor and on the run.”

He blasted the Obama administration for negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program, saying the president has put at risk the security of Israel, a key U.S. ally.

[…] Graham’s presidential announcement also comes against the backdrop of a bitter, high-stakes battle in the Senate over reforming the National Security Agency (NSA).

Lawmakers returned to Washington on Sunday in a last-ditch effort to prevent parts of the Patriot Act from expiring, but opposition from Sen. Rand Paul, another Republican presidential hopeful, forced key measures to lapse.

[…] He didn’t mention Paul by name in his speech, but criticized the Obama administration, and “some of my colleagues in Congress,” who he said “have substituted wishful thinking for sound national security strategy.”

"Those who believe we can disengage from the world at large and stay safe by leading from behind, vote for someone else. I’m not your man,” Graham said. “Those who believe the best way to defend ourselves is to lead the world, to make history rather than be overwhelmed by it, I ask for your support.”

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