Obama on ISIL Syria: “We don’t have a strategy yet

[Teddy B 17,252]

I firmly believe deterrence is the preferable way to go. The risk with inviting your opponent to make a move is that you are relying on your intelligence being spot on. If it isn't and you miss the real threat, then any attack that causes loss of life will be attributed to your "lack of a strategy". It could be argued that the death of Steven Sotloff is the first result of this.

If such an attack occurs and causes major loss of life, then this Administration could find itself backed into a position where it finds it needs to commit to boots on the ground, just to restore credibility and not to achieve a legitimate strategic goal. That's not a situation anyone wants. The Administration needs to retain the ability to commit to the use of force and level of force on its own terms.

And I never mentioned anything about advertising a strategy if there is one. That never entered the conversation, as it's not what the President said. However, if we did have a strategy, that's about all I would say. Why give away the farm, when you can leave your opponent second-guessing themselves, worrying about what you really know?

As I said, over-sharing on the world stage is never a good idea

By "making a move" I wasn't necessarily referring to an attack. It could be something as simple as letting their guard down enough to allow communication to be intercepted. In my opinion saying that you have a strategy is the worse option of the 3.

I agree. Obama lies

Show me a politician that doesn't.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

For those who wish to believe the preznit hasn't bothered himself with an ISIL strategy because it recently "snuck up" on him:

They are the Junior Varsity. Nothing to be bothered about

Obama is the first Preznit, who gets his daily security briefing in Memo form. My guess is their is a pile in the corner marked roundtuit

By "making a move" I wasn't necessarily referring to an attack. It could be something as simple as letting their guard down enough to allow communication to be intercepted. In my opinion saying that you have a strategy is the worse option of the 3.

Show me a politician that doesn't.

The dead ones

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What should the US be doing about ISIL?

Another invasion and military occupation? How long should such a policy continue for?

[Pooky 3,906]

What should the US be doing about ISIL?

Another invasion and military occupation? How long should such a policy continue for?

Why just the US?

With the atrocities being carried out by IS/ISIL/ISIS, the international community as a whole should be formulating a course of action

[OriZ 3,165]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has warned that the West will be the next target of the jihadists sweeping through Syria and Iraq, unless there is "rapid" action.

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• Saudi king warns of terrorist threat to Europe, USAssociated Press
  

"If we ignore them, I am sure they will reach Europe in a month and America in another month," he said in remarks quoted on Saturday by Asharq al-Awsat daily and Saudi-backed Al-Arabiya television station.

"Terrorism knows no border and its danger could affect several countries outside the Middle East," said the king who was speaking at a welcoming ceremony on Friday for new ambassadors, including a new envoy from Saudi ally the United States.

The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group has prompted widespread concern as it advances in both Syria and Iraq, killing hundreds of people, including in gruesome beheadings and mass executions.

Lack of action would be "unacceptable" in the face of the phenomenon, King Abdullah said.

"You see how they (jihadists) carry out beheadings and make children show the severed heads in the street," he said, condemning the "cruelty" of such acts.

"It is no secret to you, what they have done and what they have yet to do. I ask you to transmit this message to your leaders: 'Fight terrorism with force, reason and (necessary) speed'."

President Barack Obama has yet to decide whether the United States should launch raids against positions held by the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria to follow US air strikes on IS activities in Iraq.

US Secretary of State John Kerry called Friday for a global coalition to combat Islamic State fighters' "genocidal agenda".

Writing in the New York Times, Kerry said he and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet European counterparts on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Wales next week, to enlist assistance.

They will then travel on to the Middle East to build support "among the countries that are most directly threatened".

"With a united response led by the United States and the broadest possible coalition of nations, the cancer of ISIS will not be allowed to spread to other countries," Kerry said in Friday's op-ed piece.

Asharq Al-Awsat said the king urged other countries to join the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre, set up in 2011 to respond to new threats, and to which Saudi Arabia has made a grant of $100 million.

http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-king-warns-west-jihadists-next-target-093701543.html

Man, those Saudis are stepping up to the plate big time lately. Now if only they keep improving their human rights issue internally, which has seen some major improvements in recent years but not enough. Between Saudi, Egypt and a few other countries there is starting to form a 'moderate' axis, proof moderate Muslims do exist...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh I'm aware of that but this thread seems to hinge on the premise that Obama should be doing something, but isn't. The international community hasn't really come into it so far.

I just want to know what people want the US to do here.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Apparently you were on to something....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/513128-terror-leader-ahmed-abdi-godane-killed-in-us-strike/

Or you could lie and say you have no strategy in an effort to get your enemy to let their guard down and make a move. That would be my guess. Think about it for a second. What person with half a brain would say "Yes we have a strategy, and it is this."? Isn't lying about having no strategy just as good, if not better than staying silent?

[Teddy B 17,252]

Apparently you were on to something....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/513128-terror-leader-ahmed-abdi-godane-killed-in-us-strike/

However, our resident expert on everything Preznit didn't think so.

He only lies when it can hurt the US, so he's not lying when he says he doesn't have a strategy.

Puh-leeze. This is the preznit that learned about each and every scandal by reading about it in the newspaper? The smartest preznit . . . evah?

[JohnR! 5,495]

Why I am not surprised?

However, our resident expert on everything Preznit didn't think so.

[UncleBeer 244]

So ... by all means provide any credible evidence that the preznit is cunningly doing the switcheroo on the jihadists. Any. Considering how his whole "Arab Spring" thing has gone, and Obamacare, and "stealth amnesty", and any number of his other pet initiatives, you'd be daft to think his "no strategy" strategy is actually a strategy.

Any credible evidence at all?

[Teddy B 17,252]

So ... by all means provide any credible evidence that the preznit is cunningly doing the switcheroo on the jihadists. Any. Considering how his whole "Arab Spring" thing has gone, and Obamacare, and "stealth amnesty", and any number of his other pet initiatives, you'd be daft to think his "no strategy" strategy is actually a strategy.

Any credible evidence at all?

There is nothing to see here. There is no plan. There is no strategy. Time for some golf.

It's all in the swing when you're the Preznit!!

Edited September 5, 2014 by Teddy B

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

So ... by all means provide any credible evidence that the preznit is cunningly doing the switcheroo on the jihadists. Any. Considering how his whole "Arab Spring" thing has gone, and Obamacare, and "stealth amnesty", and any number of his other pet initiatives, you'd be daft to think his "no strategy" strategy is actually a strategy.

Any credible evidence at all?

Please show us how Obamacare is helping out terrorists. And what is stealth amnesty?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So ... by all means provide any credible evidence that the preznit is cunningly doing the switcheroo on the jihadists. Any. Considering how his whole "Arab Spring" thing has gone, and Obamacare, and "stealth amnesty", and any number of his other pet initiatives, you'd be daft to think his "no strategy" strategy is actually a strategy.

Any credible evidence at all?

What do you personally think his strategy should be?

[JohnR! 5,495]

It is a made up expression that sounds as though it means something when in fact, it does not.

Please show us how Obamacare is helping out terrorists. And what is stealth amnesty?

Edited September 5, 2014 by JohnR!

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It is a made up expression that sounds as though it means something when in fact, it does not.

Thank you for clearing that up for me.