Sen. John McCain’s challenger in the Republican Primary, former Arizona State Senator Dr. Kelli Ward, is questioning his judgement on foreign policy due to his decision to spend the 4th of July in Islamabad.
McCain spent Saturday in Islamabad discussing a $699 million deal to sell American F-16 fighter jets and drone technology to a government whose intelligence apparatus likely helped hide Al Qaeda mastermind Osama Bin Laden for years, according to Pakistan’s Business Recorder. McCain met with Pakistan’s former president Asif Ali Zardari in Los Angeles last weekend, as reported by Dawn News.
He and his group did spend the 4th with troops and made sure to Tweet often to deflect the criticism.
Honored to spend #IndependenceDay w/ troops at Camp Resolute Support #Afghanistan – their service is an inspiration pic.twitter.com/rNzwN7Ib2E
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 4, 2016
@SenJohnMcCain and @LindseyGrahamSC join us from Afghanistan to discuss terror threats around the world & in the US pic.twitter.com/vRFB1NzoEF
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 3, 2016
“While most American families are spending their July 4th holiday weekend reflecting on the principles that have sustained this nation since the Declaration of Independence, Arizona’s senior senator is palling around in Islamabad,” stated Ward. Ward asked, “Does he really know who-is and who-is-not associated with terrorist groups?” Ward notes that “Libya, Syria, and Iraq would not be The Islamic State’s “Harvard of terrorism” if he had not worked with Hillary Clinton to arm so many militant groups as part of Barack Obama’s failed foreign policy.”
“Senator McCain has been dangerously distracted with his “Invade the World, Invite the World” agenda. In addition to his support for open borders and amnesty here at home, he even brags on his campaign website about securing $1.3 billion to fund more sketchy ‘train and equip programs’ in Iraq and Syria and “border security operations” in Jordan and Lebanon,” stated Ward.
Ward issued a statement on Sunday, in which she criticized McCain’s “track record of picking the right players in the Middle East, especially when it comes to distributing American weapons.”
“The burden is on Senator McCain to explain what he is doing over there, who is he meeting with, what he is giving them, and why. Is he sure these are the right guys, this time? Will these actions incite Pakistan’s neighbor, India? Americans deserve answers,” concluded Ward.
Meanwhile in Arizona, a Tucson teenager was arrested for conspiring with ISIS on plans to attack government buildings in Maricopa and Pima counties.
Meeting w/ @afgexecutive Dr Abdullah in #Kabul to recognize progress of unity govt & regional security challenges pic.twitter.com/RsbEdtaQPs
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 4, 2016