We ARE At War With ISIS(L) AfterAll

[JamesL]

Day after both Kerry and Rice vehemently denied US at war with ISIS(L)

White House, Pentagon contradict Kerry, say US ‘at war’ with ISIS

The White House and Pentagon acknowledged Friday that the U.S. “is at war” with the Islamic State -- contradicting Secretary of State John Kerry and others who a day earlier refused to use that term, prompting criticism from lawmakers that the administration was downplaying the conflict.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest and Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby used almost identical language when pressed by reporters Friday whether or not the expanded military operation against the terrorist group is in fact a war.

“In the same way that the United States is at war with Al Qaeda and its affiliates … the United States is at war with ISIL,” Earnest said.

Kirby said “this is not the Iraq War” from a decade ago, “but make no mistake -- we know we are at war with ISIL in the same way we are at war and continue to be at war with Al Qaeda and its affiliates.”

The comments are a sharp turnaround from how Kerry described the military operation on Thursday. In interviews with CNN and CBS News, Kerry described it as a “very significant” and “major counterterrorism operation.” He told CBS News that “war is the wrong terminology.”

His spokeswoman, Marie Harf, also said she would not “refer to our efforts” as part of the “war on terrorism.”

Kerry’s comments, though, stirred confusion on Capitol Hill, coming a day after President Obama announced plans to expand airstrikes in Iraq and authorize them in Syria, while dispatching hundreds more U.S. military personnel.

Obama called for a coalition of nations to ultimately “destroy” the growing terror network. Meanwhile, the CIA confirmed that its latest estimates show the Islamic State has as many as 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria. That’s close to the estimated size of the Taliban force in 2001.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other lawmakers suggested Kerry’s comments did not square with Obama’s stated goal of defeating the vast terror network.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...gon-contradict-kerry-say-us-at-war-with-isis/

 

[JamesL]

In other idiotic Obama Administration proclamations, Administration official claims Saudi Arabia shares extensive border with Syria

In the best of hands: Senior Obama official makes terrible geography error

As the Obama White House continues to flesh out its strategy for combating the Islamic State, the terrorist group that has claimed much of Iraq and Syria, rest assured knowing that the U.S. is in the best of hands.

Or maybe not.

Consider the following statement, which was made Thursday by a senior White House official during a conference call [emphasis added]:

I guess I would just add one thing on the coalition question — and I think this is important to really focus on, which is to say, in discussions with governments in the region, notably the Saudis and the Jordanians, what is clear is that we have a very common view of this threat. And this is really quite unusual. ISIL has been I think a galvanizing threat around the Sunni partners in the region.

They view it as an existential threat to them. Saudi Arabia has an extensive border with Syria. The Jordanians are experiencing a destabilizing impact of over a million refugees from the Syrian conflict, and are profoundly concerned that ISIL, who has stated that their ambitions are not confined to Iraq and Syria, but rather to expand to the broader region. ​

Oh, dear.

Here, let’s clear up exactly what’s incorrect in that statement, which was prompted by a larger discussion on the Obama administration's attempts to recruit allies to help it fight the Islamic State:

But don't worry: The country's in the best of hands.

​

 

[loyek590]

who is this "WE" kemosobe? I am not at war with ISIL. Journalists who go into dangerous foreign territory should know the risks. It's not my job to protect them or exact revenge for their deaths. I fought a cold war against the Soviet Union for 30 years who had such a dingbat economic system that it should have been obvious to any clear thinking economist that it would collapse. And 40,000 names are on a wall in Washington D.C. because we fought for the right for Viet Nam to have a Pizza Hut.

I'm not at war with ISIL. As far as I'm concerned they can kill as many people as they want. Just don't try to kill me, or I will wipe you out so fast you won't know what hit you.

 

[dbphoenix]

who is this "WE" kemosobe? I am not at war with ISIL. Journalists who go into dangerous foreign territory should know the risks. It's not my job to protect them or exact revenge for their deaths. I fought a cold war against the Soviet Union for 30 years who had such a dingbat economic system that it should have been obvious to any clear thinking economist that it would collapse. And 40,000 names are on a wall in Washington D.C. because we fought for the right for Viet Nam to have a Pizza Hut.

I'm with you on that one. We created this situation and it's a bit disingenuous to dither and cry "But this isn't what we had in mind!"

 

[loyek590]

I'm with you on that one. We created this situation and it's a bit disingenuous to dither and cry "But this isn't what we had in mind!"

ok, just let me know if you want to buy any of my "Ron not Rand" bumper stickers.

 

[dbphoenix]

In a televised address to the American public Wednesday, President Obama laid out plans for using military force to destroy the ISIS terrorist network. Here are the arguments for and against U.S. intervention in Iraq and Syria:

The Case For Intervention

• Keeps the rust off the ol’ war machine
• Helps bring stability to Assad regime
• Obama says ISIS is like a cancer, and we all know cancer is bad
• Great chance to win those last few Iraqi hearts and minds we didn’t quite get to during last campaign
• Beacon of freedom, moral high ground, all that shit
• It’s already happening, so just go with it

The Case Against Intervention

• Could set negative precedent of engaging in armed conflict without official congressional approval
• Recklessly marches nation into war before trade and tourism sanctions can have any effect
• Just going to have to do it all over again in six years, 13 years, 17 years, and 21 years anyway
• Means U.S. government is publicly flip-flopping on whether Syrian civilians’ lives have any value
• Pretty much guaranteed to cut off diplomatic relations with eventual Islamic State of Iraq
• Not going to work (the Onion)