U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) says President Obama is the wrong man to deal with the new crisis in Iraq.

Kirk says Obama and his current national security team have failed to stop violence in the country caused by Islamic militants such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has seized large areas of northern Iraq.

“I’m very worried that the president doesn’t appear to be up to this job of protecting the United States,” Kirk said. “If Iraq turns into a Cambodia-style killing field, then the U.S. will have a real big problem.”

Kirk last week characterized the surging militants as “Iraq’s problem” and said the U.S. must not commit soldiers to the conflict.

Kirk’s suggestion to Obama is to replace his national security team, and then coordinate airstrikes on ISIS targets with the Iraqi government.

Kirk is against Iran having a role in ending the violence, saying Obama tends to “give too much” to Iran in negotiations.

Secretary of State John Kerry has suggested that the U.S. may speak to Iran about ending gains by militants in Iraq, but the Pentagon clarified that any cooperation would not include military coordination.

(Copyright 2014 Illinois Radio Network. John Gregory reporting.)