WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in the Senate Armed Services Committee and FBI Director James Comey in the Senate Judiciary Committee about the threat of terrorism facing the United States and the strategy to destroy ISIL.

GRAHAM QUESTIONS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CARTER

GRAHAM:

I am making a simple proposition to this President, that I will give you whatever you need in terms of my authorization to go wherever you need to go, as long as it takes to use whatever available tools you have within legal limits to destroy this threat.

Mr. President, are you all in or not?

The Secretary of Defense seems to be indicating this is good military policy.

To my colleagues on the other side, if we produce an authorization to use military force restricted by time, means or geography, you’re sending a message to the enemy I will not send. You’re restricting our ability to defend this homeland with an imminent attack coming. http://bit.ly/1YZ8sgz

GRAHAM:

Let’s have a discussion. Let the enemy know without hesitation, there’s no limitations on time, means, or location when it comes to destroying ISIL.

Mr. President, embrace this authorization for you and future presidents, because the country needs it. http://bit.ly/1YZjv9k

Additional information on Graham’s Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF) is available: http://1.usa.gov/1maY4En

GRAHAM QUESTIONS FBI DIRECTOR COMEY

GRAHAM:

Do you agree with the following statement: There are more terrorist organizations with men, equipment and safe havens along with the desire to attack the American homeland any time since 9/11?

DIRECTOR COMEY:

I agree. http://bit.ly/1REOtle

GRAHAM:

Is it fair to say the Paris attack was a very sophisticated, well-planned attack that came from Syria?

DIRECTOR COMEY:

Yes.

GRAHAM:

Is it fair to say that those people who planned the Paris attack would hit us here at home if they could?

DICECTOR COMEY:

Yes. http://bit.ly/1RES4zv

GRAHAM:

What do you think the likelihood of another 9/11 against the homeland will be if we don’t destroy the Caliphate in Syria and Iraq in the next year?

DIRECTOR COMEY:

Certainly a very hard question for me to answer. They’re ability to have a safe haven from which to gather resources, people and plan and plot, increases the risk of their ability to mount a sophisticated attack against the homeland.

GRAHAM:

So the best strategy would be, at least in the short term, - they’re large, they’re rich, they’re entrenched - is to make them small, poor, and on the run. Would that be a good approach to ISIL?

DIRECTOR COMEY:

That makes sense and my understanding is that is the aim. http://bit.ly/1NbJYLC