dagblog - Comments for "Obama Offers First Sketch of War Plan for Taking On ISIS"

Iran 'backs US military

artappraiser — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 07:03:10 +0000

In reply to Obama Offers First Sketch of War Plan for Taking On ISIS

Iran 'backs US military contacts' to fight Islamic State

BBC News - ‎3 hours ago‎

Iran's Supreme Leader has approved co-operation with the US as part of the fight against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, sources have told BBC Persian.

Ayatollah Khamenei has authorised his top commander to co-ordinate military operations with the US, Iraqi and Kurdish forces, sources in Tehran say.

Iran has traditionally opposed US involvement in Iraq, an Iranian ally.

However, Iran's foreign ministry officially denied it would co-operate with the US against IS.

Ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham told Iran's Press TV the report was not correct.....

For the Sept. 8 New Yorker,

artappraiser — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 06:59:03 +0000

In reply to Obama Offers First Sketch of War Plan for Taking On ISIS

For the Sept. 8 New Yorker, Steve Coll had related criticism of Obama's ISIS policy as "Whack-A-Mole against jihadists" and concluded:

Leading a coalition of this character is hard, uncertain work. George H. W. Bush, the President whose foreign policy Obama seems to admire most, did it successfully in the runup to the Gulf War of 1991, by intensive personal engagement. Obama has more than two years left in the White House. To defeat ISIS, but also to reduce its source of strength, will require the President to risk his credibility on more than just air strikes.

And oh, while we were all

artappraiser — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 00:12:35 +0000

In reply to Obama Offers First Sketch of War Plan for Taking On ISIS

And oh, while we were all arguing about the above, the U.S. bombed in Somalia last week to:kill Al Shabab's leader:

Pentagon confirms killing of Somalia terror group leader with airstrike (+video)

The Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, announced the death in a brief written statement. It took the Pentagon four days to conclusively determine that Godane had not survived Monday's airstrikes.

By Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press September 5, 2014

WASHINGTON — US airstrikes earlier this week killed the leader of the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia, the Pentagon said Friday. President Barack Obama said the death of Ahmed Abdi Godane demonstrated US counterterrorism resolve and was an example of his deliberate approach to dismantling al-Qaida affiliated groups.

The Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, announced the death in a brief written statement. It took the Pentagon four days to conclusively determine that Godane had not survived Monday's airstrikes.

Al-Shabab has not publicly confirmed Godane's death [....]