President Barack Obama said over 40 nations have offered to help in the United States’ effort to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Obama said that during a statement he delivered on Tuesday. He said the United States planned to move forward with helping to equip and train the Syrian opposition who are the “best counterweight” to the terrorist threat and the Assad regime.
“And more broadly over 40 nations have offered to help in this comprehensive effort to confront this terrorist threat,” Obama said. “To take out terrorist targets to train and equip Iraq and Syrian opposition fighters who are going up against ISIL fighters on the ground, to cut off ISIS financing, to counter its hateful ideology and to stop the flow of fighters into and out of the region.”
Obama also said the United States also conducted airstrikes against “seasoned al Qaeda operatives” in Syria.
“I’ve spoken to leaders in Congress and I am pleased there is bipartisan support for the action we’re taking,” Obama said. “America’s stronger when we stand united and that unity sends a powerful message to the world that we will do what’s necessary to defend our country.”
Obama walked from the Oval office to deliver the statement.
President Obama walks from the Oval Office to make a statement about the Syria airstrikes. #syriaairstrikes pic.twitter.com/XSk0crXEsn
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) September 23, 2014
This post was updated.
I want to know more about the support provided by our “Arab Friends” , especially the Saudis. Nice to see that actions are being taken to dry up ISIS funding sources. OPR yesterday spoke about ISIS militants stopping lorries carrying goods between Syria and Jordan and charging each driver up to $200 toll to pass through. It would seem like that particular avenue could easily be closed while we focus on their sales of oil.
On the surface this all sounds good, it was worth taking time to garner support from other nations, especially those in the region.
Thankfully we have an adult in the White House instead of a stick horse riding C’boy.
I didn’t know Monaco had an air force. Isn’t that where you can find most of our ‘Arab friends’?
There are about 200 (196) countries in the world, so 40 is 20% of the countries on the planet willing to step up.
Not bad, even if they do include countries with populations smaller than Rhode Island.
Proud of the President.
Media looks ridiculous, as usual.
Please don’t tell me some of the critics are poker players. Wait… maybe I do want to know where they are playing. I’m banking on the POTUS.