Friday, December 8, 2006
Santorum Warns of 'Islamic Fascism' Threat
In a departing speech Wednesday on the Senate floor, Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum warned of the growing threat of what he calls "Islamic fascism."
It was a familiar theme for Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, who lost in the Nov. 7 general election to Democrat Bob Casey. Throughout his campaign, he warned of the escalating threats from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and North Korea.
Santorum, a two-term incumbent, said Wednesday his one regret about not returning for the next Congress is that he won't be able to focus on the issue of energy security.
"It is lunacy, it is suicidal to continue to allow the energy markets at the levels they are now given the fact that a vast majority of those energy dollars are going to people who want to kill us and destroy everything we believe in," Santorum said. "We can no longer play games with our energy security."
Santorum, who has not announced his future plans, said he will continue to work on issues related to Syria and Iran.
"I will do my best after I leave this place to continue to confront these enemies and to give the United States the opportunity to succeed in this war," Santorum said.
Earlier Wednesday, Santorum voted against confirming Robert Gates as defense secretary. Gates, who was confirmed by the Senate, was named by President Bush to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld. Santorum said the U.S. needs to confront Iran rather than "engaging someone who is at war with us. I think he is in error."
As he did in his campaign in a series of speeches throughout Pennsylvania, Santorum referred on Wednesday to what he said were multiple forces trying to undermine the United States as the "gathering storm" - a phrase that is also the title of Churchill's memoir about the causes of World War II.
He said he was advised not to talk about the issue in the campaign, but he felt as a senator it was important to discuss the issues critical at the time. He said he still believes that "Islamic fascism" is the biggest enemy of the time.
He said it's an unpopular battle and U.S. leaders have "not had the courage to stand up and define the enemy as to who they are and study and understand them and explain to the American people who they are."
In a departing speech Wednesday on the Senate floor, Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum warned of the growing threat of what he calls "Islamic fascism."
It was a familiar theme for Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, who lost in the Nov. 7 general election to Democrat Bob Casey. Throughout his campaign, he warned of the escalating threats from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and North Korea.
Santorum, a two-term incumbent, said Wednesday his one regret about not returning for the next Congress is that he won't be able to focus on the issue of energy security.
"It is lunacy, it is suicidal to continue to allow the energy markets at the levels they are now given the fact that a vast majority of those energy dollars are going to people who want to kill us and destroy everything we believe in," Santorum said. "We can no longer play games with our energy security."
Santorum, who has not announced his future plans, said he will continue to work on issues related to Syria and Iran.
"I will do my best after I leave this place to continue to confront these enemies and to give the United States the opportunity to succeed in this war," Santorum said.
Earlier Wednesday, Santorum voted against confirming Robert Gates as defense secretary. Gates, who was confirmed by the Senate, was named by President Bush to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld. Santorum said the U.S. needs to confront Iran rather than "engaging someone who is at war with us. I think he is in error."
As he did in his campaign in a series of speeches throughout Pennsylvania, Santorum referred on Wednesday to what he said were multiple forces trying to undermine the United States as the "gathering storm" - a phrase that is also the title of Churchill's memoir about the causes of World War II.
He said he was advised not to talk about the issue in the campaign, but he felt as a senator it was important to discuss the issues critical at the time. He said he still believes that "Islamic fascism" is the biggest enemy of the time.
He said it's an unpopular battle and U.S. leaders have "not had the courage to stand up and define the enemy as to who they are and study and understand them and explain to the American people who they are."
