Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina said on Friday that she disagrees with Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. should allow Russia to "get rid of ISIS," adding that Russia, Iran, Syria, and Iraq have formed an "unholy alliance."
Fiorina was being interviewed on the radio show New Hampshire Today when she agreed with Trump's assertion that Putin is a stronger leader than President Obama, but said that allowing Russia to "take care of ISIS" would exacerbate a "dangerous situation" created by the alliance of those countries.
"Well, Putin is clearly stronger than President Obama," the former Hewlett-Packard CEO said. "However, I disagree strenuously with Donald Trump when he just says, 'Oh, let the Russians go in there and take care of ISIS.' It is a very dangerous situation that Russia, Iran, Syria, and Iraq have formed an unholy alliance."
Fiorina argued that Russia's increased involvement in Syria is part of Iran's plan to become a "regional hegemon."
"It is a very dangerous situation when General Suleimani, the head of the Quds force travels to Moscow, to tell the Russians to come in and save Syria. It really is about Iran becoming a regional hegemon with Russia as their ally," she said.
She added that Russia was trying to "extend its influence into the Middle East" and into NATO countries.
"Russia wants to extend its influence into the Middle East," Fiorina asserted. "They have had this as an ambition for a long time under Vladimir Putin. He is extending his influence into NATO. The NATO alliance is falling apart because we are not showing leadership and resolve and the Middle East is becoming a very, very dangerous place because we are not showing leadership and resolve."
Earlier in the interview, Fiorina also said she disagreed with "several features" of the tax plans of both Trump and Jeb Bush, though she did not say specifically which features of those plans she opposed.
