John McCain said Wednesday that the worst part of President Obama’s final State of the Union Address was his “almost pathological denial” that there are real terror threats worldwide.
“We are continuing to experience attacks throughout the world, including the USA, and there will be more,” the Arizona senator said Wednesday night on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor.” “He still won’t admit that this is Muslim extremism, Muslim terrorism — he won’t even admit that.”
What’s even worse is that the president failed to mention the 10 U.S. soldiers held by Iran during his Tuesday night speech, McCain said. This shows his desperation not to offend Iran or jeopardize the nuclear deal with the nation.
“This is desperation not to offend the Iranians because the Iranian deal has to be kept intact,” McCain said. “It’s now made the United States of America be the subject of absolute humiliation.”
Iran on Wednesday released nine men and one women it held captive earlier this week after the sailors’ boats drifted into Iranian territory in the Persian Gulf due to a mechanical issue. Since their release, Iranian media has made public photos and videos of the capture and detainment. In one video, one male sailor apologizes to Iran and praises their treatment of them — but U.S. officials have said they are reserving judgment on whether he may have been under duress.
“They’re not only taunting, but this is a great propaganda coup for the Iranians,” said McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. “In other words, their head of their IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] Navy said the U.S. cannot stand up to Iran. They were in sight of our missiles, he said. If this had happened it would have led to their annihilation.”
“Unbelievably, [Vice President Joe] Biden said this was just standard nautical practice, Kerry said all indications show the sailors were taken care of, Earnest — that idiot — said the proper courtesy … Iran gave our sailors the proper courtesy you’d expect,” McCain continued, referring to White House press secretary Joshua Earnest. “And Kerry, to top it all off, expressed his gratitude.”
Watch the full interview above.
