From Nice to Brussels, to San Bernardino, and beyond, the Western world has been hit too many times by ISIS terrorists and its sympathizers. I will continue to pray for the victims and families of these heinous attacks, but it is increasingly disheartening that the murderous thugs that commit these acts have faced no robust or strategic recourse for their actions. We cannot just wish and pray these terrorists away. We as a nation, are well overdue a bold response from President Obama, not just another moment of silence in mourning our allies and our own communities.

Under President Obama, we have had no real national security strategy. In fact, the Obama Administration’s “lead from behind” policies have continued to put our security and that of our allies at risk. Our leaders have threatened ‘red lines’ with Syria, with no consequences when Syria crossed those lines. The reset with Russia has failed, and through the President’s agreement with Iran, he has allowed an influx of funds to a rogue regime that supports and harbors terrorists. At the same time, we have had no serious response to the surge, growth and expansion of ISIS.  As a result, the world is less safe today than it was eight years ago.

I believe it is in our best interest to do everything possible to take the fight to the core of ISIS, fight them on their turf, and keep them out of the United States. This will take more than drone strikes alone. It will take a bold, strategic plan, incorporating the tools of various agencies across our government. I believe House Republicans have set forth through the leadership of Speaker Ryan and laid out in our Better Way campaign a new path forward to win this war on terrorism.

Our Better Way National Security Strategy includes military readiness, robust diplomatic outreach, expansion of intelligence operations, cyber security targeting, strengthening our border security, coordinating with our allies to better combat terrorists abroad, and preventing radicalization and recruitment at home and abroad.

In order to be successful in our war on terror, we must support our military, and provide the great men and women in uniform with the tools they need to keep us safe. Military readiness, having a robust force, is a key in keeping America safe, but we will not defeat terrorism with our military alone.

Under the House Republican plan, we will invest in our counterterrorism abilities through our cyber networks, share information across agencies and coordinate with our allies. We will increase our outreach to our allied leaders of Muslim countries and enlist their assistance. The majority of all terrorists attacks are against our Muslim allies; they need our support, but they must also lend their support. We will protect our borders, and have a better account of who is traveling to and from our country. We will allow our intelligence agencies to do their job, including surveillance and collecting human intelligence. We will also cut off the financial networks the terrorists rely on.

The Better Way policies and practices set forth by House must be included in a new national strategy. We are ready and willing to share our ideas with this administration and the next to ensure we are placing our great nation in the best position to be successful in containing and defeating terrorism.  We have the tools necessary we just need an Administration with the leadership and strategic wherewithal to allow the systems to work.

We are at war with radical Islamists. In this time of increased global threats, I am committed to keeping Texans safe and I will continue to support all efforts to secure our homeland, and provide for our military. I hope the President and the next President will join me in this fight.

John R. Carter is a Republican and represents Texas District 31 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

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