Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Sunday suggested to NBC’s David Gregory that Russian separatists would never have shot down a Malaysian Airline flight if Secretary of State John Kerry had called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “thug.”

Following an interview with Kerry, Gregory spoke to Graham, who could not contain his anger about the secretary of state’s assessment of “complex” foreign policy issues like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He gave the most ridiculous and delusional summary of American foreign policy I could imagine!” Graham exclaimed. “It scares me that he believes the world is in such good shape! America is the glue the holds the free world together, leading from behind is not working, the world is adrift.”

He added: “And President Obama has become the king of indecision. His policies are failing across the globe, and they will come here soon.”

Gregory wondered what Kerry and the Obama administration should have done regarding the downing of the Malaysian flight.

“He didn’t call Putin the thug that he is, he didn’t call for arming the Ukraine so they can defend themselves against rebel separatists supported by Russia!” Graham insisted. “All of the enemies of our nation are being well supplied, Russian and Iran are helping Syria.”

“The Europeans are never going to lead on this issue, it’s indispensable that America lead, and there’s a battle a wills between the KGB colonel and the community organizer. And the colonel is winning.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch the video below from NBC’s Meet the Press, broadcast July 20, 2014.