Obama On Iraq: ‘I Think This Is Going To Take Some Time’

President Barack Obama speaks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, about ongoing situation in Iraq before his departure on Marine One for a vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Obama ... President Barack Obama speaks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, about ongoing situation in Iraq before his departure on Marine One for a vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Obama announced late Thursday that he had ordered military airstrikes in northern Iraq to hold off Islamic State forces advancing on the Kurdish capital of Irbil. Obama also ordered airdrops of food and water to member of a religious minority group who fled into the mountains to escape the militants. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS
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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.”

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  1. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    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

  2. “Obama On Iraq: ‘I Think This Is Going To Take Some Time’”

    Translation: this is gonna hurt.

  3. 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.

    The Sunni Muslim extremist group that has taken over parts of Iraq recently is dependent on support from locals in the areas it wants to control. Recently one group of locals tried to leave – they wanted open roads, prisoner releases and a truce with their neighbours. In return the extremists kidnapped their leaders and burned down houses. Can this uncomfortable state of affairs between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ wings of the group continue?

  4. It is reported Obama slumped in his chair and mumbled barely audibly, “President Bush was right, goddamnit, he was right all along.”

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