Sen. James Inhofe (R., Okla.), a senior member of the Armed Services committee and a member of the Foreign Relations committee, says President Obama’s address to the nation tonight on Iraq was “awkward,” due to the president’s avoidance of a “victory lap.”

“I just wish that we had a president at this time who would be a forceful defender of America,” Inhofe says in an interview with National Review Online. “What he says about Iraq and Afghanistan, and how he says it, is being watched very closely by our adversaries — North Korea, China, Iran.” By not forcefully articulating the continued U.S. mission in the Middle East, Obama, Inhofe says, is doing a “great disservice” to national-defense policy.

“With Democrats vulnerable around the country, [President Obama] seems to be so focused on not admitting that his predecessor’s efforts were successful,” Inhofe says. “By not praising the surge, and simply commenting on the drawdown, he appears to be trying to avoid a bungled statement like President Bush made on the aircraft carrier about the mission being accomplished. While there is still much work to be done in Iraq, I’m not sure if his [rhetorical] strategy is necessary or serves him well.”