O'Malley doubles down on ISIS-climate change connection.
Martin O'Malley doubled down Saturday on a claim earning him some ridicule from Republicans: The threat of Islamic State terrorism and climate change are most likely linked.
The Democratic presidential hopeful told Iowans during a stop at Peace Tree Brewing Co. that the rise of the violent radical group was spurred by tensions from a major drought that hit Syria in 2007. The U.S. needs to focus its intelligence efforts on better predicting how natural disasters will affect countries and use its resources to stop violence, the former Maryland governor said.
O'Malley has mentioned the link before on the campaign trail, leading Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and others last week to declare the idea "absurd." But the former governor defended himself when asked about his foreign policy stances Saturday by Mike Lane, a 78-year-old Knoxville attorney. . .
Lane, who asked the question about foreign policy, was impressed with O'Malley's command of world affairs. The attorney said he's still looking for a candidate to support in the caucus, and he's not entirely certain O'Malley has the best foreign policy credentials of all the Democratic candidates.
"But it seems to me he has a handle on what is happening in the world and possibly a way to solve it," he said. "Experience is important … but I think having the knowledge and the ability to handle it is more important."
Building relationships in potentially volatile regions will be particularly important for the next president, O'Malley said. One area to watch will be the Arctic Circle, where melting ice caps are expected to open new access to both shipping routes and natural resources like oil and minerals, he said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/07/25/omalley-doubles-isis-climate-change-connection/30676717/
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