Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) argues that dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis will require addressing the root causes of the problem. To do that, the Wisconsin Republican says it may require putting American troops on the ground.
Johnson believes President Obama needs to commit to stabilizing the situation in Syria and he thinks the strategy used in the first Gulf War will be key to making that happen. “We need a coalition of the willing – Western Europe, Gulf states – to go in and start providing safe zones within Syria, so we don’t have the refugee flow,” Johnson argued during a stop last week in Madison.
The Wisconsin Republican said the U.S. can’t be the world’s policeman, but it should act when doing so is in the nation’s best interest and it has the ability to do so.
As for the refugee crisis that’s currently forced three million people to flee from Syria, Johnson urged caution on opening U.S. borders. He worries ISIS may be taking advantage of the situation to infiltrate other countries. “We need to be on guard,” Johnson said. “The threat of Islamic terror is not receding. We don’t have them on the run. These are serious threats.”
If the U.S. does agree to allow more refugees enter the country, Johnson thinks the first priority should be on reunification. “If we have Syrian-American citizens, if they have family members in Syria, that ought to be the first group of people that we let in,” he said.