Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, took the Obama administration to task on Tuesday for what he called its “lack of strategy in addressing the rising threat of extreme Islamic terrorism in the Middle East.”

 Daines questioned Secretary of State John Kerry during a hearing held by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs.

Daines, citing the interest of average Montanans, asked Kerry why the Obama administration refuses to categorize the Islamic State and other self-identified Islamic terrorist groups as “Islamic extremists” or “Islamic terrorists.”

In the hearing, Kerry downplayed the role of Islam in motivating the militant terror strategy by the Islamic State, and said many members of ISIS are “thrill-seekers,” “adventurers,” “thugs” and “opportunists” rather than radical Islamist extremists.

Daines issued a statement that the administration is not exhibiting “moral clarity” in the fight against ISIS.

“The Obama administration’s refusal to acknowledge ISIS for what it is — extreme, radical Islamic terrorism — directly jeopardizes our nation’s efforts to extinguish this growing threat in the Middle East,” Daines stated. “It is irresponsible that Secretary Kerry would rather label these terrorists as ‘adventurers and thrill-seekers’ than extremists driven by a radical ideology. The president’s clear lack of strategy in dealing with this threat was on full display today, and the American people should be gravely concerned.” 

Also, during the hearing Tuesday, Kerry told wary lawmakers that it was premature to criticize nuclear negotiations with Iran before any deal can be reached to keep Tehran from developing atomic weapons. 

“The president has made clear — I can’t state this more firmly — the policy is Iran will not get a nuclear weapon,” Kerry said. “And anybody running around right now, jumping in to say, ‘Well, we don’t like the deal,’ or this or that, doesn’t know what the deal is. There is no deal yet. And I caution people to wait and see what these negotiations produce.” 

Kerry testified in Congress 12 hours after returning to Washington from the latest round of  talks with Iran.