Republican Sens . John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , who have partly pinned ISIS 's advance on Obama 's full military withdrawal from Iraq , knocked Obama 's `` policy of half measures '' and called on him to `` degrade ISIS . '' By authorizing strikes , GOP 's decision marks a turning point in Iraq foreign policy . Obama 's reluctant action comes after GOP criticism of his foreign policy on Iraq and Iraq . Obama said the Obama was acting to protect Christians on the ground in U.S. . But past failures , questions over a broader strategy loom as U.S. asserts power in Iraq .
By authorizing strikes , GOP 's decision marks a turning point in Iraq foreign policy . Obama 's reluctant action comes after GOP criticism of his foreign policy on Iraq and Iraq . Obama said the Obama was acting to protect Christians on the ground in U.S. . But past failures , questions over a broader strategy loom as U.S. asserts power in Iraq .