IS executes scores of Syrian troops; Obama admits he has no strategy

"We don't have a strategy yet," Obama said"

Hey, neither does Putin or Xi Jingping.

Good Lord, why am I NOT surprised by this?

Obama admits he has no strategy

For a man whose sycophants consider to be one of the most intelligent men in the history of the world, it seems he is the last one to realize that his government has no strategy for Syria. Maybe with this revelation it will dawn on him that he should now put his purported mental faculties towards actually coming up with some sort of response to the chaos that his indecisiveness helped to create. Just think of the possibilities when he realizes he has no strategy for anything else either!

And MrObama is the cmdr in chief, making such a remarks made his country in embarassment but I dont think he cares at all

bass4funkAug. 29, 2014 - 08:20AM JST

Good Lord, why am I NOT surprised by this?

He has a plan. He just does not want to send a telegraph to ISIS.

Bush also never had any exit strategies for Afghanistan or Iraq, so this isn't surprising. Although I don't recall the level of critcism back then now being heaped on Obama, even tho' Bush's zero-strategy situation lingered on for 7 miserable years.

Misleading headline. Using the words 'admits' and 'he' plays to a common motif among the ODS crowd, that as usual Obama is incapable of strong leadership. He didn't admit anything. What Obama said is, "We don't have a strategy yet." Note the words 'we' and 'yet'.

Foreign and military policy are not thought up by one man. If they were, then Saint Ronnie would have been the sole mastermind behind selling arms to Iran in exchange for hostages.

The blitzkrieg by IS is a complicated issue, threatening to reopen sectarian fighting across the region. I'd rather have a president who thinks carefully before acting, than one who rushes toward military action without deliberating on the effects (think 2003-2008).

Bass and Wolfpack, perhaps you'd like to share your strategies for dealing with IS.

a man whose sycophants consider to be one of the most intelligent men in the history of the world

Oh please.

The jihadists posted grisly video footage on the Internet of scores of bodies heaped in the desert they boasted were those of Syrian soldiers they captured and executed following the seizure of Tabqa air base.

The absolute level of just plain butchery displayed by ISIS is simply unspeakable. No question Obama's slow/weak reaction to the civil war in Syria helped contribute to the conditions that made their rush to prominence possible. But, let's not forget that he was blocked at every turn by Putin/Russia when he tried to get U.N. Security Council approval to move against Assad. So the blood of Assad's troops, who are now being slaughtered by these thugs, is clearly on Putin's hands more so than Obama's.

I want a new CINC. This one is defective.

JeffLeeAug. 29, 2014 - 08:53AM JST Bush also never had any exit strategies for Afghanistan or Iraq, so this isn't surprising. Although I don't recall the level >of critcism back then now being heaped on Obama

Jeezus you have a short memory.

He has a plan. He just does not want to send a telegraph to ISIS.

Yeah, because saying "we have a plan" will completely spill the beans. Wikileaks is full of articles that just say "we have a plan". The weather forecast is always "tomorrow, there will be weather"...

Stop blindly supporting Obama. He's been the worst president in decades, if not ever.

@global

He has a plan. He just does not want to send a telegraph to ISIS.

Even if that were true, he doesn't have to tell ISIS anything in detail, but he needs to be straightforward with the American people as to outline what his strategy will be. That is his job if he wants support from the American people. The people need to understand at the bare minimum what his plan and goal is, that would not be divulging or giving anything concrete to the enemy.

@jeff

Bush also never had any exit strategies for Afghanistan or Iraq, so this isn't surprising. Although I don't recall the level of critcism back then now being heaped on Obama, even tho' Bush's zero-strategy situation lingered on for 7 miserable years.

Bush did make exit strategies with both Iraq and Afghanistan, which was a slow withdraw over the next few years and to keep a small contingency force and fully trained the Iraqis. Obama didn't have to due anything just follow up on what was already put in place, Obama didn't do that and Obama's inability and inept and undesired will to deal with Iraq and Syria when he so famously gave Assad a RED LINE which he never followed through on, now the chickens have come home to roost. Now we might sooner or later have to go back in again and who has egg on their face, Barack Obama. Obama left the window wide open for years since 2010 and not establishing a real SOFA and withdrawing the troops too early, ISIS was able to grow and flourish and now Obama is dithering as to how to execute this operation which I think he should, but since he disengaged himself the reality of radical Islamic terrorism, these people are on steroids and the Club Med of terrorism, NEVER before have we've seen anything like this that so many Europeans, Aussies and Americans, Africans and who knows where else, these people are coming from to join the fight with the Jihadists, No thanks in big part to Obama's incompetency. Whatever the outcome or decision and whether Obama wants to accept it or not and either way, if he doesn't do something now, the next president will have to deal with ISIS, this is NOT going to go away anytime soon. Now, Obama might have to eat crow and partner up with Assad, vile and disgusting as it may be, but at this point, he has really no other choice and at some later point, he or the next president will have to send ground troops and possibly initiate another surge and get the Kurds, the Egyptians and the Turks and also Europe needs to step up to the plate and they have to this time pick up a lot more of the responsibility and NOT only the US.

OssanAmerica: I want a new CINC. This one is defective.

Ukraine, ISIS, immigration. What's defective about him? Everything going just as Bill Ayers planned.

Bill Kristol, aka, the man who gets everything wrong,

"Someone said, 'we can't just bomb,'" [Kristol] said, speaking about an ABC panel he was on. "You know, why don't we just [bomb?] We know where ISIS is. What’s the harm of bombing them at least for a few weeks and seeing what happens? I don’t think there’s much in the way of unanticipated side effects that are going to be bad there. We could kill a lot of very bad guys!"

You can't make this up.

Lets we forget, 10 years ago that @hole along with the whole right wing noise machine said

"Let's invade Iraq and and seeing what happens?"

Well, we saw happens. ISIS happens.

@ssholes.

bass4funkAug. 29, 2014 - 09:47AM JST

@global

He has a plan. He just does not want to send a telegraph to ISIS.

Even if that were true, he doesn't have to tell ISIS anything in detail, but he needs to be straightforward with the American people as to outline what his strategy will be. That is his job if he wants support from the American people. The people need to understand at the bare minimum what his plan and goal is, that would not be divulging or giving anything concrete to the enemy.

You NEVER let criminals know in advance that you are coming to arrest them.

Obama is trying hard to protect his 'legacy' before his term is up. It is like someone saying to him 'Stay out of trouble irregardless, don't bomb too much, no boots on the ground, don't upset China too much & finally don't have DPRK's Kim stir up too much trouble and you'll get your 'Obama Library of Peace', a monument of the first black President of the USA that is unblemished unlike the legacies left behind by George W. Bush or Bill Clinton.

Obama is a patriot and does what he thinks is best for the county.

Bill Kristol, aka, the man who gets everything wrong,

And what did Obama and the Dems get right? Iraq....ahem.

"Someone said, 'we can't just bomb,'" [Kristol] said, speaking about an ABC panel he was on.

We can't as Obama found out with the death of James Foley for the actions of bombing them, NOW, I am all for bombing them, but there needs to be more precision and tactical strikes to get to the senior leaders which this president, if you can call him that needs to do.

"You know, why don't we just [bomb?] We know where ISIS is. What’s the harm of bombing them at least for a few weeks and seeing what happens?

We did and they are still growing and expanding.

I don’t think there’s much in the way of unanticipated side effects that are going to be bad there. We could kill a lot of very bad guys!"

Obama DID withdraw all of our troops and now we see the fruits of it coming home to roost.

You can't make this up.

I agree

Lets we forget, 10 years ago that @hole along with the whole right wing noise machine said

"Let's invade Iraq and and seeing what happens?"

After the surge, nothing happened, things were quiet for a few years, people were opening up shops, buying, selling businesses started to rise up, people could travel there in limited areas, it was on a slow, but steady comeback, then Obama won the election and then.....

Well, we saw happens. ISIS happens.

Not following up on the SOFA agreement, the slow troop withdrawal that was already implemented, Obama didn't want to follow, yes, we see what is happening. This from a man that still refers to the Fort Hood shooting as "workplace violence." Are you kidding me. I have never seen such an incompetent guy that refuses to call it what it is and what we are facing. Radical terrorism, for some reason, he will use every other word in the lexicon except that one.

@ssholes. :-) No, arguments here.

MrObama is some sort of "Out of touch" with this world. He believes the Al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups were "Easy Mercenaries" to be used in his conveniences after the death of Mr OBL! That's why he never stop that Al Nusura front. And syria has becoming a magnet to attract terrorists around the world including westerners to fight jihad in syria! This is totally not a civilized country leader's conduct! Asad was wrong does not means those against his regieme were right, now those jihadist serpeants were swamping into iraq and maybe even further to any corner of this world. My pity to mr Obama 'no strategy ' remarks he is just incompetent to lead world affairs at all and there is another two years of his cmdr in chief! Good luck everyone

You NEVER let criminals know in advance that you are coming to arrest them.

What are you talking about? Outlining a strategy as to how you want to deal with this seriously growing threat and military operations are two entirely different things, has nothing to do with one or the other. All presidents have done this, but now I am glad to see this, actually the world. Now we really see in all honesty how this idiotic guy thinks, he has NO clue what he is doing and shouldn't occupy the White House...well, he does have 875 more days to go and then the nightmare with this Charlatan will be finally over.

@JT

Obama is a patriot and does what he thinks is best for the county.

Patriot?? Lol! Are you serious?! He doesn't even wear a flag on his lapel. NOT that it is important, but the guy and the way he took this country down to the gutter has shown to the people quite the opposite. Obama cares about 1) Golfing 2) Fundraising 3) Making excuses

That is basically what Obama cares about ultimately. This guy is the king of making excuses, thin skinned, doesn't listen to anyone and thinks he has all the answers and look where that has gotten us NO Where.

So the blood of Assad's troops, who are now being slaughtered by these thugs, is clearly on Putin's hands more so than Obama's.

Really? For three years US supplied all kinds of anti-Assad forces, they generally morphed into ISIL, and now Putin at fault? Excellent logic.

Obama may be intelligent, he may give good speeches, though I was never impressed. He may be president of the USA but what really are his accomplishments? Obamacare-lets just wait and see! Prior to 2008, did anybody know of him?

The legacy looks bleak. The world is in chaos, the US debt is projected to be $20 trillion when thru, many scandals of which a few need serious investigation including admin incarceration.

Love the IRS vanishing hard drives and blackberry's, Comments on Trayvon and Brown but where are the Chicago efforts? Parts of Chicago are a war zone, his home districts in some cases. And as the president he has done nothing! And our border is permitting more and more future Democrats across w/o ANY opposition.

Just wait until we have a massive multiple terror attack within the next 4 years. Yes a prediction but an easily possible reality. It will be an Al-qaida type several locations within hours or days across the nation. Easy entry into US for them and any number of possible plans to execute. THANK YOU OBAMA!

At least Obama and his cabinet understand it is a lot easier to go in than to get out. Sure, the US could line up a massive invasion of US troops backed by manned and unmanned air power which would have initial stupendous success in curtailing ISIS. That much planning anybody could do. Then what? With the benefit of 11 years of hindsight wouldn't it be fair to say it isn't likely be "mission accomplished"?

By 2008 two thirds of US voters thought the Iraq War was a mistake (with hindsight). Also, the US recognized Iraqi govt (in practice just the Shiite govt) has resolutely rejected immunity for US troops in Iraq. Obama has to take these facts into account and he is doing so.

Bring back GWB. He was good with plans. He said he wanted Osama bin Laden "Dead or Alive". And now he's dead. Mark one up for George. He said he was going to rid Iraq of WMD. No WMD in Iraq these days. Mark two up for Georgie boy. Obama needs to learn from GWB. Just rush in all gung ho waving a flag and claim victory is just around the corner. And then pass the whole sorry case onto someone else. What's hard about that?

With the benefit of 11 years of hindsight wouldn't it be fair to say it isn't likely be "mission accomplished"?

Correction, it was until Obama pulled the troops out, which he later took credit for and smiling Joe Biden went on Larry King bragging that Iraq is stable and that the people are greeting us a liberators and is a shining beacon of hope.

Well, well, well....look how his inefficiency and lack and care for Iraq and caring more for fundraising has gotten us. ISIS, not to mention, Obama and the Dems can't brag at all that we are out and take credit, we are most likely going back in and with less troops, this will turnout to be a lot worse than before.

By 2008 two thirds of US voters thought the Iraq War was a mistake (with hindsight). Also, the US recognized Iraqi govt (in practice just the Shiite govt) has resolutely rejected immunity for US troops in Iraq. Obama has to take these facts into ACCOUNT and he is doing so.

Who cares what the people think! Most people don't have a iota of clue to what geopolitics are. They just get the nightly news, hear of some casualties and then think war is bad and we need to get the troops out without knowing the hard facts and details of what terrorism is or means. Sometimes as president, you have to do what's best for the country and NOT worry about the polls or party, if Obama would have kept to the timetable that was already set up for him, we wouldn't be here now on JT talking about this. But yeah, he's the man with a plan..oops, NO plan, sorry!

O supporters, why are we nearly 6 years into the Obama administration and Afghanistan is still occupied and Gitmo still open (minus 5 key inmates)? Why is terrorism stronger now then 6 years ago?

IS executes scores of Syrian troops; Obama admits he has no strategy

Yeah, a modern Liberal leader if ever there was one!

Hey, how about we just sit down with these sweet fellows and sing kumbayah with them. Then after we can ask them their feelings. Then they will us what hurts them and makes them so mad! Then we can promise to give them all the money they want and arm them some more! Then afterwards we can all have a big hug and laugh about all this! Oh, what a really great Liberal Utopia!

Oh yeah, Liberal world leadership makes the world a happy happy nice place for all, even PSYCHOPATHS!

Hey, it just says IS "claims" big difference between actual verification. Remember to believe none of what you hear and half of what you see unless you're there in person.

@Joe, bell pepper and Mark

I couldn't agree more, but Obama will NEVER see the real threat of this, he's still more worried about keeping his party in power than overall the country. This is a NO brainer! I don't want to go back into Iraq, but it means that is what we have to do to stop these guys before it's too late, then that is what we have to do.

Did you guys see this last night? If this doesn't reconfirm that these guys are beyond crazy and if you're not convinced, then there is NO hope for anyone!

http://youtu.be/p5a60F8AgpI

Really? For three years US supplied all kinds of anti-Assad forces, they generally morphed into ISIL, and now Putin at fault? Excellent logic

Asakaze ... first off, your post has nothing to do with the comment I made which was that Putin blocked Obama's attempt to get the Syrian civil war in front of the U.N. Security Council which is where it belonged. But, since you did raise the issue of what the U.S. supplied the rebels, you really should have done your homework. Up until just this past June, and in large part due to the rise of ISIS, Obama stepped-up his arming the rebels. Before that, U.S. aid mainly consisted of training and light arms and equipment like armor vests, night-vision goggles, etc. Which is not even in the same league as to what Russia was providing the Syrians with. And now, since ISIS has over-whelmed large parts of the Syrian army, it is those weapons that are being used to slaughter these people.

Folks, news flash ALL the crap happening in Iraq & Afghanistan is DIRECTLY related to the moronic policies of GWB!

Afghanistan the yanks should have ONLY concentrated on getting bin ladin, NOTHING else! Get then get the hell outs dodge!

Iraq............WTF..............SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED PERIOD! Iraq is a screw up of massive proportions! I was NEVER a fan of saddam Hussein but he clearly had better control over Iraq than the US ever did! And now.......its a total frigging nightmare that's going to get massively worse in all likelihood!

Again thanks GWB & his side kick rummy & the dick!

Why should he "have a strategy"? Fact is he will never "defeat ISIS" - so maybe let this awful cataclysm in the Middle East run its course rather than interfering again with the predictable disastrous consequences.

Obama had a plan, that was to pack the tent as his slogan during the campaign; any other plan is irrelevant. As stated, dictators across the globe gone wild, and Obama is still talking. He said Assad must go and draw the red line, and now? Too much to ask from a community organizer's politician. As usual, the Obamabots see nothing, hear nothing....

He has a plan. He just does not want to send a telegraph to ISIS.

Okay I see what you just did there. The last guy had to have a plan or the media and the Left would hound him about it without end. But when Obama doesn't have a plan, that's cool because he is cleverly concealing it from the enemy. Yeah, I noticed what you did there. Pretty sneaky little double standard. But no big deal, we are used to that now.

Back Assad and Iran - all the other plans have failed so far.

@GW

Folks, news flash ALL the crap happening in Iraq & Afghanistan is DIRECTLY related to the moronic policies of GWB!

You mean, NOW? No! All Obama had to do was keep a small amount of troops in Iraq after the surge, he didn't do that. Also, NEWS FLASH, OBAMA is the president of the US and ISIS flourished under his watch. This is his Mission accomplished moment.

Sorry, but the blame game of 8 years ago is soooo out of fashion.

Why does the US have to have a plan?

The US plans created the hell hole that is now Syria, Libya and Iraq. They toppled (or are trying to) the leaders that kept armed extremists at bay. The US funded, armed and encouraged ISIS for their own purposes, just like they did the rebels in Afghanistan.

The relentless poking into other countries and trying to manage and create enemies of enemies is a business model that has wrought death and despair on millions since WWII, in exchange for enormous wealth in the military industrial base.

The military-industrial wants the US to just bomb anyone and everyone. They just can't figure out who yet, but they will, eventually. Some group will have family and friends killed by US airstrikes and they will create a new group of people angry at the US, which is exactly what the US wants.

More enemies = more bombing = more "terrorists" = more money for the companies making all the equipment. It's a never-ending cycle.

To some let them consume each other is strategy too.

bass4funkAug. 29, 2014 - 10:50AM JST

You NEVER let criminals know in advance that you are coming to arrest them.

What are you talking about? Outlining a strategy as to how you want to deal with this seriously growing threat and military operations are two entirely different things, has nothing to do with one or the other. All presidents have done this, but now I am glad to see this, actually the world. Now we really see in all honesty how this idiotic guy thinks, he has NO clue what he is doing and shouldn't occupy the White House...well, he does have 875 more days to go and then the nightmare with this Charlatan will be finally over.

You stubbornly refuse to accept the real situation. ISIS is holding US hostages and their life is in danger. And you want Obama to reveal his rescue mission. Outrageous, bass!!!! Very disappointed in you.

'No! All Obama had to do was keep a small amount of troops in Iraq after the surge, he didn't do that.'

All he had to do, eh? When are the Fox News numbskulls going to get this? This region was bound to fragment after Saddam. I know the right aren't too bothered at the idea of spilling other people's blood in the name of this lost cause but see the reality.

The arab spring has plunged to 'The arab snow storm with bloody stinks'. Both Libya and Syria in chaos now and his excellence just blame China being a thirty years free rider/ Imported most of Iraq oil. etc. Well, we understood mr obama loves blame game at his tough time.

The world stands by, wrings it hands, sucks it's teeth, and does absolutely NOTHING to stop this......

History is repeating itself in a manner of speaking and those who should be in the position to do something to stop it should be ashamed of their inaction.

Putin blocked Obama's attempt to get the Syrian civil war in front of the U.N. Security Council

Jerseyboy...I think its you who should pay much more attention to homework. Russia cooperates fully with UN on Syria. That is why Syrian chemical weapons - the subject of most concern to the world - is being destroyed now.

I just wonder why US did not learn from their past blunders? Lets look:

a) 80s, Afghanistan. US supported and armed anti-Soviet mujaheddin. OK, pro-Soviet regime is toppled, victory, hurrah. Then ooops, "good" mujaheddin somehow became baddies, Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Result: Sep11.

b) 2011, Libya. US supported and armed anti-Kaddafi rebels. OK, the regime is toppled, victory, hurrah. Then OOOPS, "good" rebels somehow became uncontrollable bands. Result: the country is in shambles, US personnel killed at Benghasi.

c) Syria. US supports and arms "good" rebels, but somehow these nice guys went over to baddies, ISIL. The result we see now.

They never learn....

Keeping a small number of soldiers in Iraq wouldn't have done squat, what would have done squat is if the Iraqi government had gotten itself together and worked together like a nation united instead of bickering over power. IS wouldn't have gotten so far if the Shiites and Sunni's got their heads out their butts. But then again that's what you get with clan/tribal thinking...

Unfortunately nobody has a crystal ball to tell the future and neither does the Obama administration and US military seem to have the chess skills to predict all the potential outcomes of every move they make and the enemy makes which would have helped a ton. I do remember writing a nice letter to the white house during the beginning of the Syrian implosion stating what a damned stupid idea it was to assist the "rebels"(at the time these folks were known as...) and telling them exactly what was going to happen is that the POTUS and his admin can't guarantee these guys weren't Islamists or infiltrated by them.

While it's fine for those of us who are US citizens to comment our opinions here on this site, make sure you're being a more active citizen and start writing our concerns to congress, the senate, and the white house. We have to go beyond just voting during election time. Make sure you use common courtesy and diplomatic conversation to get your point across. No expletive filled letters that don't give our government constructive criticism or ideas to fix the situation. Just giving hints on what we need to do to voice our displeasure at the decisions a lot of the people we've put in government have been making.

Obama is a lame duck. He has proved this time and time again while in office. The solution to this IS problem is simple; Put a nuclear broom through the region where they exist.

Believe me, He definitely has a strategy.He is just getting the world prepared for whats about to come.

Send in the Philippino peacekeepers?

"Obama admits he has no strategy"

Does he have to have a strategy? Heck, no one else has one...

It's about time the US adopted a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" policy and work with Syria and Iran to get rid of ISIS.

ToshYori san MAKES PERFECT SENSE!! and also Russia and China, the EU should also be helping, to combat terrorism.

Not only that Obama has no strategy; with his action to remove Gadaffi in Libya and try to remove Assad in Syria, ISIS would never have gotten to where it is. In effec, ISIS is Obamas creation.

So, how does that wonderful Arab Spring work out for you now, Mrs. Obama, Hillary, and Cameron?

What fools.

WilliB

Do you have any idea what lead to Arab spring............hint GWB, ALL the crap going down goes DIRECTLY back to GWB & the stooges from his inner circle. Obama hasn't been perfect but he IS still dealing with the garbage left by GWB, the 10s of thousands killed, wounded, un-rooted............& for bloody what!

You would have thunk the US would have learned from Vietnam but NO the same mistakes are being repeated, REPEATEDLY!

AsakazeAUG. 29, 2014 - 01:39PM JST

Jerseyboy...I think its you who should pay much more attention to homework. Russia cooperates fully with UN on Syria. That is why Syrian chemical weapons - the subject of most concern to the world - is being destroyed now.

I just wonder why US did not learn from their past blunders? Lets look:

a) 80s, Afghanistan. US supported and armed anti-Soviet mujaheddin. OK, pro-Soviet regime is toppled, victory, hurrah. Then ooops, "good" mujaheddin somehow became baddies, Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Result: Sep11.

b) 2011, Libya. US supported and armed anti-Kaddafi rebels. OK, the regime is toppled, victory, hurrah. Then OOOPS, "good" rebels somehow became uncontrollable bands. Result: the country is in shambles, US personnel killed at Benghasi.

c) Syria. US supports and arms "good" rebels, but somehow these nice guys went over to baddies, ISIL. The result we see now.

Good analysis.

@global

You stubbornly refuse to accept the real situation. ISIS is holding US hostages and their life is in danger. And you want Obama to reveal his rescue mission. Outrageous, bass!!!! Very disappointed in you.

That didn't stop this idiot in chief to tell the whole world that they were trying to rescue Foley and they the mission was a failure, guess what? The terrorists have access to cable as well and NOW they know we tried to rescue Foley and couldn't. so now they will be extra careful and on guard. And why did this admin. leak the information, to NOT look weak, but looking stupid is OK. Once again this president shows just how idiotic and unfit he is for this job. That is outrageous! If Obama were really as smart as all the signatures on his parchment paper says, he could inform the public and behind the scenes do something else, but at least let us know. I think him being in the sun so much golfing has ruined his thinking process.

@darnname

Why does the US have to have a plan?

ISIS has a plan and from the looks of it, it's working, they are meeting their agenda to impose Sharia and to overtake the country, so you are saying the US should continue to just watch ISIS go on and behead everyone else, expanding their territory and just try to ignore them and hopefully they will go away???? I don't know about you, but I like to keep a little of what I got on my shoulders.

The US plans created the hell hole that is now Syria, Libya and Iraq. They toppled (or are trying to) the leaders that kept armed extremists at bay. The US funded, armed and encouraged ISIS for their own purposes, just like they did the rebels in Afghanistan.

So the muslims had nothing to do with the Arab Spring. They are incapable and dumb that they don't know anything about uprising? Also, when you talk about funding, don't forget to add the British and the French that put us all in this mess to begin with and the sykes picot accord that was the beginning of the end to the region, so if you want to REALLY blame someone, there you go, that is, if you really want to be fair and to want to be bias.

The relentless poking into other countries and trying to manage and create enemies of enemies is a business model that has wrought death and despair on millions since WWII, in EXCHANGE for enormous wealth in the military industrial base.

That part has been going on for thousands of years.

The military-industrial wants the US to just bomb anyone and everyone.

More progressive hippie leftist junk.

They just can't figure out who yet, but they will, eventually. Some group will have family and friends killed by US airstrikes and they will create a new group of people angry at the US, which is exactly what the US wants.

Yeah, the US and the Pentagon, contemplate every single day as to how to kill as many people as possible because it's fun and the US loves to see body parts fly in the air and the average American can't think of anything else but carnage, it's the only thing we think about is killing and maiming people, that's what we learn in school, that's what we learn. Amazing!!

More enemies = more bombing = more "terrorists" = more MONEY for the companies making all the equipment. It's a never-ending cycle.

So you think they will come to their senses and stop killing Shias, Jews, Christians, Yazidis, Atheists, children, other Sunnis and everything and everyone that doesn't want to follow their twisted version of Sharia? Even Al Qaeda disowned them, wants nothing to do with them and is afraid of them. But for you, we have nothing to worry about, leave them alone and they will go away. ROFL. yeah, right.

@jim

All he had to do, eh? When are the Fox News numbskulls going to get this?

Probably, they got it, where Obama and the WH doesn't get it.

This region was bound to fragment after Saddam. I know the right aren't too bothered at the idea of spilling other people's blood in the name of this lost cause but see the reality.

After the surge, Al Qaeda was contained, they even admitted to being defeated on their website, now had Obama followed through on the SOFA agreement, tried to have better relations with Maliki and tried to strengthen better ties with the Sunnis and better training and complete the training of the Iraqi forces, it could have been done, but neither side gave a crap and here we are.

Not only that Obama has no strategy; with his action to remove Gadaffi in Libya and try to remove Assad in Syria, ISIS would never have gotten to where it is. In effec, ISIS is Obamas creation.

So, how does that wonderful Arab Spring work out for you now, Mrs. Obama, Hillary, and Cameron?

What fools.

No, thinking the US has any right to be in the region at all is foolish. The US should stay at home. They've already ruined things enough in the Middle East.

"Oh. My. God. You're seriously trying to lay ISIS at Obama's feet? You people are insane."

"Do you have any idea what lead to Arab spring............hint GWB, ALL the crap going down goes DIRECTLY back to GWB & the stooges from his inner circle"

Oh. My. God. You're seriously trying to lay ISIS at Bush's feet? You people are insane.

No, thinking the US has any right to be in the region at all is foolish. The US should stay at home. They've already ruined things enough in the Middle East.

Of course we have every right. You think we care what anyone thinks when it comes to our national security. We don't need to ask anyone if we can defend ourselves or our national interests. For once, I am truly glad, that at least Obama is thinking about tapping into his inner Bush and is thinking about a preemptive attack on ISIS. But again, if you want to throw blame at anyone ruining the Middle East, start with where it all began oh, so many years ago with the Brits and the French and if you want to add Bush, fine, also don't forget to add the heavy catalyst in all of this, the sectarian violence and top it off, add Obama and Maliki to it, now you have yourself a Sundae of a mixture of faults and disaster that mucked all of it up. See, there is enough blame and sticky fingers to go around.

Obama is a complete and total idiot. He has almost destroyed the US military with his stupid liberal changes Obama needs to go and go soon he is not smart he is worthless to the USA and the world. he is the worst president in the history of the US

Jefflee:

" Bush also never had any exit strategies for Afghanistan or Iraq, so this isn't surprising. Although I don't recall the level of critcism back then now being heaped on Obama, even tho' Bush's zero-strategy "

Is that a joke? Bush was lambasted constantly; even today 7 years after he is gone, they still try to blame everything on him, disregarding Obamas disastrous policies in Libya, Tunesia, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, all of which are coming back to bites us now.

Our "Community-Organizer-in-Chief", who never possessed a passport before 2008. A man with no real-world professional, economic, or military experience, yet he was somehow elected to be president of the United States? Hadn't we learned anything after Bush? Who will we elect next? Larry the Cable Guy?

There was a windfall of opportunity for the middle east, and it was all squandered, because no one knew what to do it, except for the likes of the IS. Obama once stated that "America was not the world's policeman", and now we get to see the results of America sitting on it's hands. As long ago as the Monroe administration, it was known that the safety and success of America depended upon international influence and diplomacy, but then again, we no longer elect leaders like Monroe to be president, we elect empty-headed mouthpieces with good hair and not too much dirt hidden under the rug.

@Bass

Who cares what the people think!

Sometimes as president, you have to do what's best for the country

You're an exemplar of why American democracy has so little street cred anymore.

@plastic

You're an exemplar of why American democracy has so little street cred anymore.

Actually, no. The main reason why it doesn't street cred anymore is because we have this pacifist meow of a president that refuses to confront these dictators and Crazy, murdering jihadists.

Bush was lambasted constantly; even today 7 years after he is gone, they still try to blame everything on him, disregarding Obamas disastrous policies in Libya, Tunesia, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, all of which are coming back to bites us now.

Sums up pretty much of what Obama is. This is what happens when you elect an inexperienced über progressive liberal community organizer. Disastrous results

'Actually, no. The main reason why it doesn't street cred anymore is because we have this pacifist meow of a president that refuses to confront these dictators and Crazy, murdering jihadists.'

The US under Republican and Democrat presidents, hawkish or dovish, has supported quite a few dictators in the Middle East and elsewhere and supported murderous jihadists in places like Afghanistan when it was expedient to do so. Don't give us the usual rightist macho posturing - it's as ridiculous as it is hypocritical. Diving headlong into disasters may get the rightwing all weak at the knees at the Hollywood/ biblical rhetoric of the power of the US military, but more lives thrown at this failed disaster zone is a moral outrage. You put the tin hat on.

For a start they can easily be infiltrated with spy's. The spy's can infiltrated the ISIS easy, and can collect massive info or weapons location positions and their strategy's fast. The number 1 its beyond clear, they are taking everyone and anyone in. The U.S can flood mass spy's in there. Sounds like Iraq all over again. Come on, "David Petraeus" show us what you got...... This time your own strategy's thanks. That's 1 for a start, and is the only thing ill be saying.

　Anyone paying attention to Obama's approach to the Iraq/Syrian situation will clearly recognize that Obama simply made a slip of the tounge (and perhaps intentionally): it is not "We don’t have a strategy yet" - it is that "We don’t have the tactics yet." And that is precisely because the tactics are rather out of Obama's hands.

Obama's strategy in the Middle East is to broadly leave decisive actions up to the players involved while preserving the ability to nudge things along (such as warning the ISIS away from Kurdish-held areas) or acting decisively when America's interests are clearly at stake (such as eliminating Assad's chemical weapons).

Interestingly, latter cases tend to dovetail with international society at large in Obama's foreign policy; the chemical weapons case was a rare case of the US and Russia acting in tandem.

The ISIS presents no imminent threat to the US that is not outweighed by the dangers and costs of boots on the ground. Conversely, it represents an opportunity: When was the last time that the interests of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Israel converged? The ISIS presents a far greater danger to them than to the US, and if they can be nudged into acting collectively (even if secretly), the results would be cheaper, far longer-lasting, and even, possibly, epoch-making compared with if the US took it on unilaterally.

So when Obama says, "We don’t have a strategy yet," he's most likely speaking to these countries, particularly to the nascent Iraqi government - that the US is patient and willing to let these players stew in the juices of their own making until they commit to becoming partners.

That is masterful.

That is masterful.

I agree, if you believe in Obama's BS, which sadly, a lot of people do. If you are are a realist, you'll be laughing for weeks. The man is so phony, it's absolutely pathetic.

For a start they can easily be infiltrated with spy's. The spy's can infiltrated the ISIS easy, and can collect massive info or weapons location positions and their strategy's fast. The number 1 is beyond clear, they are taking everyone and anyone in. The U.S can flood mass spy's in there. Sounds like Iraq all over again. Come on, "David Petraeus" show us what you got...... This time your own strategy's thanks. That's 1 for a start, and is the only thing ill be saying.

So "clearly" the spy's will record at take photos of all of their faces. Then when they go in there is "know" mixing in with civilians. So they need a police data base set up that does "face recognition" put in place. It would be like their ID cards from Iraq than Afghanistan.. So portable handheld system that is already available.

That will do, there's like 30 others they can think off them self's.

@Bass Phony? Try the 'fact' that Saddam had WMDs. I don't think 'phony' does that one justice. I think people have had enough of lies, pretexts and thousands left dead. Please pardon the sane for trying to avoid another needless bloodbath and being sceptical of charging in pumped full of testosterone, dollar signs in the eyes and the voice of the almighty in the head. Thinking isn't a sin.

The White House and the Pentagon are finally (barely and reluctantly) recognizing that an effective containment strategy is essential and must involve cooperative moves by all political leaders along the conflict periphery (including Syria/Assad). One major problem they face in those long belated talks is that the general direction of ISIS momentum is already pushing westward. Asking the periphery nations (including Syria/Assad) right now to act for what they will see as a proposal motivated primarily by U.S. support for the interests of Israel could not come at a worse time (following so soon on the heels of events in Gaza). What should happen in the foreground (while that critical proposition brews) is that the U.S. should set in motion plans to help secure Jordan, which holds the largest of the Palestinian refugee populations. If ISIS implants itself inside the Hashemite Kingdom along the southern banks of the River Jordan via Syria there will be eventual conflagration. King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein cannot roll his tanks to protect the outlying regions of his country without endangering (exposing) the Kingdom at its center and he cannot order air strikes which will endanger civilians for the same reasons. He is too wise a soldier to do either alone, but he may permit international forces access on a contingency basis if approached diplomatically by UN request. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power should start pushing for that process on orders from her CIC post haste. The Arab Spring is past; it may be Winter all too soon.

@jim

Try the 'fact' that Saddam had WMDs. I don't think 'phony' does that one justice. I think people have had enough of lies, pretexts and thousands left dead.

And if anything as lessons can be leave good and bad from the last 12 years, should be even more of an incentive to neutralize this threat. Again, if you think taking a pacifist attitude thinking if we leave them alone, "they will leave us alone is just outright nutty!" The only way to confront a group like ISIS is to go full head on and there are ways to do that, but make NO mistake, there will be boots on the ground sooner or later, because the jihadist are getting stronger, their numbers are getting bigger and nothing is done, we are all in trouble. Remember how weak and pacifist the Iraqi army was? What happened to them? Oh, yeah....they gave up....easily.

Please pardon the sane for trying to avoid another needless bloodbath and being sceptical of charging in pumped full of testosterone, dollar signs in the eyes and the voice of the almighty in the head. Thinking isn't a sin.

I would rather call it insane for anyone that wants to stick their head in the sand and think in about a year, this will all blow over and we can get back to our regular lives and sorry, religion has nothing to do with it. Reagan wasn't a religious person. So go figure...

It's high time that we Americans solve our own problems and let others solve their own problems. It makes me sick that we are constantly criticized about our foreign policies but the second something goes wrong in other countries our critics expect us to rush to the rescue and throw our money and resources into fixing what they messed up. I say that we should mind our own business, be there for our allies and fix own house before trying to repair someone else's.

MainStream Media knows what's important.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-stands-tan-suit-article-1.1921516

President Obama is standing up for tan.

A day after the summer suit he wore at a news conference drove Twitter crazy, a White House spokesman said Obama regrets nothing.

"The President stands squarely behind the decision he made yesterday to wear his summer suit," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Friday.

Obama hasn't been perfect but he IS still dealing with the garbage left by GWB

By your logic Obama is still dealing with the mess left by Bill Clinton. He let Osama Bin Laden go when he was offered up to him on a silver platter.

This always blaming someone else is tiresome. Obama has been a failure. The American people think he is the worst president since WW2. Yes, even worse than W. Blame shifting only works for those who are under the spell of the Messiah. Polls show that people believe the reality that Obama is responsible for what occurs while he is leading the world from behind.

The US should stay at home. They've already ruined things enough in the Middle East.

Leave it to the Russians, North Koreans, and Iranians?

JTDanMan: Obama is a patriot and does what he thinks is best for the county.

Haha, gotta love that sarcasm though.

The pResident of the United States this guy is not doing for the country what President does. This pResident do what he wants and thinks he is a king. With that said and all the vacations this pResident has take. I am givng him the distinction of being pResident of the US that all he is a resident and to be quite frank we are not sure if he is really a legal resident

WE wanted Assad's Syria to fall! Well, this is what it looks like! BTW, did anyone else catch Obama's new suit?

@bass

there will be boots on the ground sooner or later, because the jihadist are getting stronger, their numbers are getting bigger and nothing is done, we are all in trouble.

You ready to put your boots on the ground?

You ready to put your boots on the ground?

In a second!!

Five and a half years of being president, and Obama's record is just like it was before becoming president: Not one single accomplishment. No foreign policy accomplishments. No domestic policy accomplishments (unless you count having George Zimmerman arrested). Surrounded by an administration and cabinet of like-minded far-Left radicals, all the Obama presidency has to show for itself is a list of scandals and pathetic cover-ups.

Obama gave every indication during the 2008 campaign that he was hopelessly unqualified, dangerously inexperienced, and utterly incapable of making a difficult decision, much less taking responsibility for it.

Some well-meaning people voted for him because of hope. The technical term for people like that is "fools."

Some people voted for him solely because of his racial background. The technical term for people like that is "racists."

Some people voted for him only because he is a Democrat. The technical term for those people is "idiots."

Some people voted for him because is a far-Left radical. The technical term for those people cannot be printed in polite company.

If he were only half as capable as he and his sycophant supporters promised, he would have at least resolved some of the issues facing the country, instead of making excuses for all of his failures and blaming everyone but himself. But because Obama is not even half as capable as he and his sycophant supporters promised, his presidency has been nothing one catastrophe after another.

Every single fool, racist, idiot, and Leftist radical who voted for this complete failure of a president should hang their heads in shame and learn from their collective catastrophic mistake. The fact that they are instead still defending his failures and/or blaming them on predecessors - who have been out of office almost six years - just shows the depth of their pathological stupidity.

John Carl Smith: WE wanted Assad's Syria to fall! Well, this is what it looks like! BTW, did anyone else catch Obama's new suit?

I like the tan, but Putin probably likes it more, hard to project forcefulness in that one.

"Five and a half years of being president, and Obama's record is just like it was before becoming president: Not one single accomplishment"

What's your definition of "accomplishment"? For example, the 2004 Battle of Fallujah, where dozens of young Americans laid down their lives for the sake of a dusty Arab town where all the inhabitants hate Americans, and will always do so?

As for Obama, well, apart from the stock market doubling in value in the last few of years, shrinking govt deficit, millions more Americans getting healthcare for cheaper than anyone predicted, and achieving positive growth in the wake of the worst economic crisis in living memory...errrr.

Yeah, "not a single accomplishment" -- just many. And no more Americans dying for the sake of hate-filled places thousands of miles from home.

Obama wants us to believe that the US couldn't get a SOFA with Iraq from 2012 because the Iraqis wouldn't agree to US demands on legal protections for our soldiers and marines.

But he never wanted to keep a residual force there, one that we know now could've prevented an ISIS invasion. And we know he didn't want us there at all from 2012 because he said so during a debate with Romney.

Or was that another one of his lies?

One thing is for sure in 2014: we've got a big problem now that the Obama administration has to start dealing with when they err...get some plans together.

@oldhawk

You should get a standing applause!

You covered every single point and more. By the time Obama is out of the White House the Democrat will be banned from the lexicon probably. But in all seriousness, the Dems are in equally or worst shape than the Republicans in 2007, it's like history is repeating itself, but from the Left. Obama could have stood for something good at least Clinton tried and wasn't a bad president, I had my issues, but the man wasn't a hardass and worked with an all Republican congress. This president will NOT. He gets a standing ovation from Democrats when he mentioned if he can't get anything done, he would use his pen and his phone and use his executive veto power, so then what the heck do we need congress for if the president wants to emphasize a one party rule? He acts more like our system is a monarchy system. I just have never seen anything like this (and hopefully never will once he's gone) The man has THE WORST foreign policy of ANY president and pretty much for his last 6 years, the man pretty much didn't accomplish anything of significance other than increasing our debt, overburdening the tax payer more and more. The man can't even brag on, he got is out of Iraq. No, because looks like we are going back in again. Democrats don't want to admit the obvious, ISIS grew on Obama's watch, the Taliban resurgence is on Obama's watch, Putin invading and annexing Crimea, on Obama's watch, now he is thinking about giving amnesty to about 5 million illegals??? Why? Politics, hopefully, you can get 5 million more Democrats out of this. Our borders open, doesn't care about National security, we have people from everywhere coming in through Mexico, the terrorists know of this loophole, we already caught people from Afghanistan coming through Mexico, while England is raising their terror alert, Obama is on the golf course, when Cameron heads back to London, cutting his vacation to deal with this tragic beheading of James Foley, Obama condemns the killing, gives a speech and goes back golfing and today, he is going on a fundraiser. This is our president, a complete loser, pathetic is too good of a word to describe this joker.

@JeffLee

As for Obama, well, apart from the stock market doubling in value in the last few of years,

Printing money to create a market bubble? Yeah, just what we needed. Meanwhile, median incomes are still at Clinton-era lows, while welfare rolls are at record highs.

shrinking govt deficit,

Only by gutting the military. See any spending reductions anywhere else? And what are we going to need soon? Not EBT cards for illegals, but our military.

And the debt still rises: http://www.usdebtclock.org/

millions more Americans getting healthcare for cheaper than anyone predicted,

Total lie. Millions of Americans lost their insurance, and had to sign up for Obamacare. Remember the promise that the average American family would save $2,500 annually? The promise that you could keep your doctor? The promise that you could keep your plan? They all came directly from Obama, and they have all been proven to be lies for the vast majority of Americans.

and achieving positive growth in the wake of the worst economic crisis in living memory...errrr.

2% annual growth (or less) that does not keep up with the population increase is not positive growth, but a stagnant economy that is only one market crash from near collapse. (See: Market bubble, above.)

And no more Americans dying for the sake of hate-filled places thousands of miles from home.

Are you not paying attention?!? ISIS is HERE. A few weeks ago, one ISIS agent tweeted a picture of the ISIS flag on his smartphone in front of the White House. Back in June, another ISIS agent tweeted a picture from the Old Republic Building in Chicago. Those hate-filled places have sent their agents here, and they're getting in thanks to the Left's non-existent immigration enforcement. That will be blood on the hands of every Leftist. The deliberate, sanctimonious ignorance of the Left will only lead to tragedy. History shows that it always has.

Wouldn't it be something if the Leftists around the world could recognize an enemy besides conservatives? There was once a time when they did, but none of you here seem to be old enough to remember those days.

If Obama is doing such a good job, then how come Democrats country-wide who are running for re-election in 2014 are distancing themselves from him? They'll take his fundraising help at $30,00-per-plate private dinners, but none of their ads mention Obama or their support of his policies. Even Hillary is gearing up to base her 2016 presidential campaign on her past differences with Obama. That's a big indicator that all of the sycophants' defending of Obama's job performance are just desperate lies.

"Printing money to create a market bubble?"

The Federal Reserve sets monetary policy. Not the White House. Get your facts right. Read a textbook, or something. By the way, the US is recovering better from the 2008 that crisis than either Japan or Europe.

"That will be blood on the hands of every Leftist."

And yet the blood from the 6,000 innocent Americans lives from 9/11 was never on the hands of every Rightest who supported George Jr.? Now, that doesn't seem fair.

"ISIS is HERE. A few weeks ago, one ISIS agent tweeted a picture of the ISIS flag on his smartphone in front of the White House"

Al-Qaeda students were living in the USA through the early 2000s, enrolled in flight school, learning how fly into buildings and taking martial combat lessons. Their instructors were Americans. Where's outrage against Bush and the Republican controlled Congress over that?

"The deliberate, sanctimonious ignorance of the Left will only lead to tragedy."

And it was the deliberate, sanctimonious ignorance of the Right that got America into the current "tragedy" in the first place. Thanks, George "No Exit Strategy" Bush.

The Federal Reserve sets monetary policy. Not the White House. Get your facts right. Read a textbook, or something.

I suppose the people who run the Fed just magically show up, then?

By the way, the US is recovering better from the 2008 that crisis than either Japan or Europe.

So? The US could actually be recovering if it weren't for the Left's choking regulations and disastrous economic plans. Remember, when Obama was interviewed during the 2008 campaign, he said he wanted to raise capital gains taxes even though doing that historically proved bad for the economy. Why? Because he stated that "being fair" was more important than a strong economy. He also stated that utility prices would need to be drastically increased in order to make alternative energy more appealing. He's never cared about economic growth for the majority of Americans. He's too full of Left-wing collectivist garbage theory to ever create a positive economic environment. Unless it's for a major campaign contributor, of course.

And yet the blood from the 6,000 innocent Americans lives from 9/11 was never on the hands of every Rightest who supported George Jr.? Now, that doesn't seem fair.

2,977. Read a textbook, or something. What happened in 1993? Have you already forgotten that the WTC was bombed? Have you forgotten who was president then? Have you forgotten how he treated that as a crime instead of an act of war? Have you forgotten how that act was followed by the bombing of the Khobar towers in 1996 and the USS Cole in 2000? ALL on Clinton's watch. Have you forgotten how Clinton promised how those responsible would be brought to justice, then he returned to the DNC fundraising schedule?

But all you can think of is Bush, who was handed an intelligence community that couldn't communicate among itself thanks to a wall set up by Clinton-appointed Reno and Gorelick. You can try to pretend that Islamic terrorism was invented during the Bush administration, or you can get your facts right.

Bush didn't want to leave an unstable Iraq. Obama obviously didn't care if Iraq was stable or not. Try as you might, you can't blame Bush for when or how Obama left Iraq. This - once again - lands squarely on Obama.

US's imprialist fan posters have absolutely no clue about geopolitics. This IS thing is a very cornelian knot.

Make aliance with this one or this one? Piss off this one but maintain diplomacy with this anti-democratic one?

Very very complex stuff!

The point here is, if you want to beat the ISIS you have 2 do 2 things, and one cant be done without 1 hurting the other.

People are like just cut off there weapons supply's, but that would mean cutting off the rebels weapons 2. If you want them dead you must ether back Bashar al-Assad, or send troop's in.

All in all they need to send in troops, or let al-Assad take back control or Syria.

Just a quick question... Why are the Muslim nations around this faction waiting for the UNITED STATES to do something? And now a quick answer... Because the Muslim nations around this faction would rather leave it to someone they can later blame as "meddling" than take the issue on themselves.