Bush links Clinton to growth of ISIS

Jeb Bush will criticize Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, during a speech on Tuesday linking her record as secretary of State to the growth of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

{mosads}The Republican presidential candidate will call for an international effort to defeat the group, blasting the “wishful thinking” on the part of the Obama administration that “the tide of war is receding.”

“Why was the success of the surge followed by a withdrawal from Iraq, leaving not even the residual force that commanders and the joint chiefs knew was necessary?” Bush will ask in prepared remarks.

“That premature withdrawal was the fatal error, creating the void that ISIS moved in to fill — and that Iran has exploited to the full as well,” Bush is expected to say, emphasizing ISIS grew from U.S. disengagement.

“And where was Secretary of State Clinton in all of this? Like the president himself, she had opposed the surge, then joined in claiming credit for its success, then stood by as that hard-won victory by American and allied forces was thrown away,” Bush will say, adding, “She stopped by Iraq exactly once.”

Bush’s speech at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library in California represents stepped-up criticism of Clinton, who has repeatedly hit Bush on voting rights and his remarks on funding for women’s health.

U.S. troops left Iraq in late 2011, while a U.S.-led coalition has worked to defeat ISIS in the region since last year. The group has taken over large swaths of Iraq and Syria, and is in other countries as well.

It is unclear, based on excerpts of his speech released by his campaign, what Bush would propose the U.S. do to defeat the group beyond emphasizing a strong military and U.S. leadership.

“The day that I become president will be the day that we turn this around, and begin rebuilding the armed forces of the United States,” Bush will say.