A feisty President Barack Obama said at a Saturday morning statement on Iraq that airstrikes had destroyed arms and equipment of militant forces in Iraq. He also said that the U.S. had increased assistance to Kurdish forces in the country.
Obama added that U.S. involvement against ISIL militants there would last but doubted that it would be over in a matter of weeks.
“I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks,” Obama said. “I think this is going to take some time.”
Obama delivered the statement before he boarded Marine One for a roughly two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
His comments came a day after, according to U.S. officials, American forces launched a second set of strikes against Islamic militant targets in Iraq.
When taking questions from reporters Obama also strongly pushed back on the idea that the current situation was the result of his administration not leaving U.S. troops in the country. He said that argument was “bogus and wrong.”
After reading Josh’s TPM Editor’s piece this morning:
Shock and Awe
I’m a bit more convinced the U.S. can have an influence on the conflict without having to put ‘boots on the ground’ to achieve a desirable outcome.
Still not clear what that outcome may eventually entail-- but we can likely agree that a cautious approach to engagement is the best course at present.
jw1
“Obama On Iraq: ‘I Think This Is Going To Take Some Time’”
Translation: this is gonna hurt.
The Berlin Airlift supplied 2.8 million people and lasted almost 1 year. If they can contain ISIL, let them have their Caliphate they’ll eventually turn on each other.
It is reported Obama slumped in his chair and mumbled barely audibly, “President Bush was right, goddamnit, he was right all along.”
Right about what?