Small Wars Journal

Obama on Defeating IS

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 3:30pm

Obama: Defeating Islamic State is 'Top Priority' by William Gallo, Voice of America

President Barack Obama says destroying Islamic State is his "top priority," a day after the extremist group claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack that killed 31 people in Belgium.

Speaking in Argentina, Obama also vowed to do "whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible" for the attack.

"This is yet another reminder that the world must unite, we must be together, regardless of nationality, or race, or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism," Obama said. "My top priority is to defeat ISIL and eliminate the scourge of this barbaric terrorism that has been taking place around the world."…

Read on.

Obama Rejects Calls for Change in Strategy Against Islamic State by Juliet Eilperin and David Nakamura, Washington Post

President Obama declared Wednesday that defeating the terrorism threat posed by the Islamic State remains his top priority, but he forcefully dismissed calls for his administration to alter its strategy and vowed not to change course “simply because it’s political season.”

At a news conference here, Obama responded to criticism from Republican presidential candidates who, in the wake of the terrorist bombings in Brussels that killed 31 people Tuesday, have said the president has not done enough to combat terrorist organizations. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks…

Read on.

Obama, in Argentina, Says Defeating ISIS Is His Top Priority by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, New York Times

President Obama said Wednesday that he will continue to “aggressively” go after the Islamic State militant group after terrorist attacks in Belgium on Tuesday that he described as “senseless, vicious violence.”

“Today the people of the United States and Argentina stand with the Belgian people and express our extraordinary sorry for the losses that they’ve experienced,” Mr. Obama said, after a meeting with Argentina’s president here. “The United States will continue to offer any assistance that we can to help investigate these attacks and bring these attackers to justice.”

Mr. Obama said defeating the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, is his top priority and defended his strategy for doing so. But he conceded that he has not yet been able to thwart the indiscriminate attacks by the group around the world…

Read on.