WASHINGTON – Curve or no curve, Republicans and Democrats disagreed Tuesday on what grade President Barack Obama deserves in the battle to defeat al-Qaida.
“If you’re going to grade this administration, you ought to grade on the curve,” said Rep. Brad Sherman of California, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on terrorism, nonproliferation and trade. Sherman said Obama deserved an “A” when comparing his track record with his predecessor, President George W. Bush, on issues such as addressing Iran’s nuclear program, winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and killing Osama bin Laden.
Republicans weren’t so generous.
“I certainly wouldn’t give this administration an ‘A’ on the fight against al-Qaida, whether you carry it on the curve or not on the curve,” said subcommittee Chairman Ted Poe, R-Texas. “Right now al-Qaida is on the increase, and we are pivoting away from that threat in the Middle East.”
Two witnesses – both allies of the president on some issues – told the hearing there is room for improvement in Obama’s global leadership in the struggle against radical Islamic extremism.
“This administration is committed to the fight against al-Qaida,” said former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent. “But the administration’s pulling back from global leadership more generally has contributed to the view that essentially the battle against al-Qaida has been won and we can move onto Asia, but that’s not true.”
Former Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat who served on the Intelligence Committee, agreed with Lieberman that while it’s unfair to downgrade Obama’s extensive campaign against al-Qaida targets, America needs stronger leadership. “Should America offer robust leadership all over the world?” Harman said. “The answer to that needs to be ‘yes,’ and there I would say some of our leadership needs to be a lot stronger.“