Graham: Take Cue from Thatcher to Fight Radical Islam, 'the Great Evil of Our Day'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said today’s leaders need to take a cue from former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in battling radical Islam.

“Margaret Thatcher was one of the great role models in the history of the conservative movement. Her foreign policy was clear eyed and firm. She, along with Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II stood up to communism, the great evil of their time, with an uncompromising conviction. They understood the ideology was evil and restricted the better nature of mankind,” Graham said in reaction to the 87-year-old leader’s death.

“Domestically, she took Great Britain off the path to socialism and unleashed the power of the British people. Her belief in the power of the individual over the false security of reliance on government control inspires to this day,” he continued.

“During the coming days she will receive much adulation and credit, but in my view the best way to pay homage to Margaret Thatcher is to follow on the path she laid out — trust in the people and stand up to evil when you find it.”

That, he said, is the threat of Islamic extremism.

“The great evil of our day is radical Islam and the world would be served well if today’s political leaders show the same determination to defeat radical Islam Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II displayed to standing up to communism,” Graham said. “Both ideologies, communism and radical Islam, intend to enslave the human spirit. With the passing of Margaret Thatcher let us all recommit ourselves to standing up to radical Islam, the great evil of our time.”