Trump Effectively Hits Obama and Clinton in National Security Policy Speech

Donald Trump delivered a strong speech Monday on thwarting terrorists and crushing ISIS while cleverly disguising it as an address on national security policy.

For once in recent days, Trump didn't get too clever. He lashed out at President Obama and Hillary Clinton for allowing Iraq to become fertile soil for the creation of ISIS. He didn't claim they had "founded" ISIS—that was Trump's position last week—only that their policies had allowed the terrorist group to flourish.

So the speech marked a sorely needed improvement in Trump's credibility. By failing to reach a status of forces agreement with the Iraqi government and then pulling the last contingent of American troops out of the country, Trump said Obama and Clinton in effect "launched ISIS on the world stage."

And Trump did advocate a new policy. He promised to "chart a new course" in fighting ISIS and halting "the spread of radical Islam." If elected president, Trump said he would put together a broad coalition of countries, including NATO members and Russia, to crush ISIS. Among his specific goals would be blocking the terrorist outfit's access to the internet.

With Trump, terrorism and immigration are twin issues. So it was no surprise when he outlined tough new rules in dealing with immigrants. He labeled them "extreme vetting." If anyone had doubts, this made it clear he would be far tougher with visa seekers than would Obama or Clinton.
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