Weekly Address: We Will Degrade and Destroy ISIL

[cal04]

Source: White House

In this week’s address, the President reiterated his comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group ISIL.

His plan brings together a campaign of targeted airstrikes, increased support for Iraqi and Kurdish forces already taking on terrorists, assistance from allies and partners, expanded efforts to train and equip the Syrian opposition, and ongoing humanitarian aid for those displaced by ISIL. The President expressed his immense appreciation for the military men and women who make these efforts possible, and reminded the world that America continues to lead and stand strong against terror.

Read more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/09/13/weekly-address-we-will-degrade-and-destroy-isil

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Transcript
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/12/weekly-address-we-will-degrade-and-destroy-isil


(snip)
As Commander in Chief, my highest priority is the security of the American people. And I’ve made it clear that those who threaten the United States will find no safe haven. Thanks to our military and counterterrorism professionals, we took out Osama bin Laden, much of al Qaeda’s leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and leaders of al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Somalia. We’ve prevented terrorist attacks, saved American lives and made our homeland more secure.

Today, the terrorist threat is more diffuse, from al Qaeda affiliates and other extremists—like ISIL in Syria and Iraq. As I said this week, our intelligence community has not yet detected specific ISIL plots against our homeland. But its leaders have repeatedly threatened the United States. And, if left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States. So we’re staying vigilant. And we’re moving ahead with our strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist organization.

To meet a threat like this, we have to be smart. We have to use our power wisely. And we have to avoid the mistakes of the past. American military power is unmatched, but this can’t be America’s fight alone. And the best way to defeat a group like ISIL isn’t by sending large numbers of American combat forces to wage a ground war in the heart of the Middle East. That wouldn’t serve our interests. In fact, it would only risk fueling extremism even more.

What’s needed now is a targeted, relentless counterterrorism campaign against ISIL that combines American air power, contributions from allies and partners, and more support to forces that are fighting these terrorists on the ground. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.


more at link

[bloomington-lib]

1. every hellfire missile is $60,000 that could have been spent on us.

[Thor_MN]

2. Marco "I'm really thirsty" Rubio #chucktodded on NPR in response

"What I didn't hear last night is that we're going to defeat ISIL no matter what, and I'll tell you why that's important. "

demonstrating that he either doesn't understand the word "Destroy", or he didn't bother to listen....

[Demeter]

3. Word: BLOWBACK

Reagan begat the Mujahedin (to destroy the USSR), the Mujahedin begat the Taliban, the Taliban begat AlQuaida, AlQuaida begat ISIS.....

Leave them alone to fight out their civil war. Stop making martyrs and enemies and "collateral damage".

In other words, stop being a terrorist state, and maybe there won't be more terrorist states formed to fight us.

[ballyhoo]

5. The neoncons now think these things are controllable

enough to keep them going and make money while the taxpayer pays the bills. And the low info voter shivers in fear and says go ahead and take my money; I don't want little Billy getting beheaded by Icicle or whatever their name is. So we are now at war with 10,000-20,000 bad guys using our weapons given by Barack Obama and Saudi money. Next, the government will get working on a Godzilla robot that breathes fire and steps on cars. Nothing short of revolt can turn this around now.

[Scootaloo]

10. "Nothing short of revolt can turn this around now."

It's called collapse. We're going to discover what that word means for powerful states rather swiftly if the current trajectory is maintained.

[ballyhoo]

11. That's right. But this collapse has to do with many

things. It's not just the economy. The declining moral structure of this country, for one thing. The death of the middle class. The constant attention to kill, kill, kill... The increase in racism again after a bit of at least apparent decline. The end of the family unit, etc, etc. I could say more but certain groups here wouldn't like it. Basically, Scootaloo, it is the death of reason and good so that fair and ideology could spread it wings. Hasn't worked out so good... A return to yesteryear is what we need, even if temporary to regroup and catch our breaths.

Thanks for the video, Scootaloo. I'll look at it when I can wake up and think. I have to rebuild an air conditioner today so I hope I can think. I really enjoy the depth of your posts. I would have posted to you sooner but for what I perceived was bambi as your icon and I didn't want to upset anyone, particularly here. Later.

[Katashi_itto]

4. More waste of money. While the Right Wingers and some DUer scream about the imagined

threat. We simply enrich the MIC with endless war.

[CJCRANE]

6. I don't agree with arming the rebels.

I know that's the real reason behind all this but we need real leadership now that drops the neocon script and listens to the people of the world.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. The MIC is HUNGRY for more WAR PROFIT. How many innocents will die this time???

[ballyhoo]

12. Depends how far it goes. Putin can't let

the US do to Syria what it did to Iraq. Course, that will mean even more innocents deaths. We may be in final hours... I always said that Iraq would be the US's Parthia. And that's what is happening. Obama is pretty much rudderless now. As another poster said last week: the neocons have won.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Thanks for posting!

[cal04]

9. Good Morning BumRushDaShow

You're very welcome