Since 9/11, the United States has been "under constant threat of terrorist attack," making it a necessity for America to go on the offense against Islamic jihadists, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson said on "America's Forum" Wednesday on
Newsmax TV.
"We're going to have to fight this Islamic terrorism on the defense by strengthening our defense, but I'd much rather go on the offense because as long as ISIS doesn't lose, they're perceived as winning.
"And they will continue to inspire this type of activity, whether it's lone wolf or whether it's affiliated terrorists around the world," Johnson said, adding that he'd like to see the threat eliminated in his lifetime.
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The threat of terrorism "keeps all of us awake at night in government," he said, particularly the knowledge that "we have to be successful 100 percent of the time and they have to be successful just a fraction of time."
Since two "lone wolf" terror attacks on Canadian officials last week as well as another on New York City police, the
Department of Homeland Security has increased security at federal buildings.
While Johnson, a member of the Homeland Security and the Foreign Relations committees, said he agrees with Obama's declaration to degrade and destroy the Islamic State (ISIS), the president is not doing so in a "robust fashion."
"I really want to go on a
very robust offense and start rolling back ISIS so they stop inspiring this type of activity," he said.
He also voiced strong criticism of the president's handling of the Ebola crisis, saying a common-sense approach is needed.
"The first thing we need is competent management out of this president and out of his White House," said Johnson. "We do need a national standard and this is a difficult situation, but it doesn't have to be that complex."
The second goal should be keeping Ebola out of the United States, he added, suggesting there should exist "a quarantine or isolation outside the country before they ever get in here."
"So there's a common-sense way of managing this situation, but we just don't have competent management in the White House."
The bungled Ebola mismanagement is directly related to Obama's dearth of experience before becoming president, Johnson said.
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"It's an example of our commander in chief not knowing how to command, not knowing how to lead, not knowing how to manage," he said. "Military leaders have got real experience in leading. They've done it all their lives, their entire careers.
"President Obama came into the White House never having led anything, never having managed anything, and unfortunately we're all paying the price for his lack of qualifications when it comes to management."
And unless they have volunteered to do so, members of the U.S. military should not be in direct contact with Ebola patients, according to Johnson.
Travel restrictions are needed to keep people from West Africa out of the United States, but U.S. healthcare workers who are treating patients and military crews building isolation units need to be able to safely re-enter the country, he said, calling for "pretty significant travel restrictions that just make common sense."
Weighing in on the race for Wisconsin governor, Johnson predicted that Republican incumbent Scott Walker would prevail, though he called the race "too close for comfort."
Walker has done a "great job of putting Wisconsin on the right path," Johnson said, while Mary Burke, the Democrat, is "an empty suit."
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