Obama admits U.S. misjudged Iraqi army, militants' threat

A bit late with that acknowledgement. Now, can we look forward to an acknowledgement that your support for Sunni radicals all across the region, including Libya, Tunesia, Egypt, and Syira, was wrong too? Not holding my breath, alas.

This administration has "misjudged" on numerous fronts!

Obama is a case of serial misguided leadership with narcissist mentality that deceived many bots as" change to nowhere". Blaming Bush game is getting too old and too cliche. His judgement in relying on face saving on the air coalition and Iraqi military with Kurd and Syrian free army that he once called "a fantasy group", is like a kid plays with war toy game. Well, many are dying, and he is still indecisive of the whole situation: manageable, short or long engagement, war or no war. The semantic game also should be over since the world will be in a long haul against these Muslim fanatic extremists. Shame!

He was asked about how Islamic State fighters had come to control so much territory in Syria and Iraq and whether it was a surprise to him. The president said that during the Iraq war, U.S. military forces with the help of Iraq’s Sunni tribes were able to quash al-Qaida fighters, who went “back underground.” “During the chaos of the Syrian civil war, where essentially you have huge swaths of the country that are completely ungoverned, they were able to reconstitute themselves and take advantage of that chaos,” Obama said, according to an excerpt released before the show aired.

Obama can cut straight to the truth and crux of the matter, here he explains it as simply as it can be explained, but no more simple than that. Excellent Commander in Chief.

The ancient history of 8 years ago is that in the Anbar Awakening the Iraqi Sunni's threw Al Queda out of Anbar province. They threw Al Queda out because they felt confident while the US was holding the balance (at great cost) in the smoldering conflict between Sunni's and Shia in Iraq. When the US left, the balance tipped against the Iraq Sunni's, increasing numbers of Sunni Iraqi's were taken away in the middle of the night by special Iraqi police who were no more than Shia militiamen dressed in Iraqi uniforms. And this time ISIL offered the Sunni's protection.

To base policy on the TOO simple explanation that all Sunni are always bad is to invite yet more disaster, defeat, and death for the region and for the US.

Excellent Commander in Chief.

Which is how he found himself scrambling to fight a "junior varsity" team of jihadists, by being such an excellent Commander in Chief. /sarcasm

If you're right and the three posters ahead of you are wrong, then why are none of the congressional Democrats running for re-election this year being seen anywhere near Obama? Many are sounding like Republicans, attacking him in their campaign ads. Even Jon Stewart, this generation's Cronkite, has pointed that out.

Obama has found himself in this situation because he's been president these past six years, instead of someone competent and capable. Where previous presidents have had security briefings read to him, he has them left in his inbox, and apparently hits the golf course instead of reading them. Even his best friend, Boehner, can't help him now.

OldHawk wrote: || Where previous presidents have had security briefings read to him, he has them left in his inbox||

Oh that he had. What Obama said is that U.S. Intelligence Agencies misjudged both the strength of the ISIL militant organization and underestimated the willingness of the Iraqi forces to oppose them. What he failed to properly acknowledge was that he as Commander In Chief showed poor judgment in allying himself with forces in the intelligence community that have vested bureaucratic budgetary interests in encouraging U.S. engagement in foreign conflicts. Obama lives now in an advisorial cocoon and cannot hear anything coming from beyond the silk wrappings of his political coterie of comforters.

Lol!  Boehner and his derelict bunch of zero work ethic Congressional Republican buddies are actually going to do something?

When was the last time this bunch actually did something for America - besides say 'No!!' - 2008?

Someone help me here!

Whoop-de-doo, all they're doing is admitting that they were wrong in who they were supporting which is what many of us where complaining about in the first place.

The President admits his intelligence is wrong!?!?!? WHERE ARE MY PEARLS!!!!!!!!!

Right wingers are such woosies.

Remember that guy who could never admit anything wrong? Bush? Cheyney? Rumsfeld?

Mao?

Bgood41: Blaming Bush game is getting too old and too cliche.

Not to some people!

Lol! Boehner and his derelict bunch of zero work ethic Congressional Republican buddies are actually going to do something?

Hmmm...who was the last president and commander in chief these past 4 years?

When was the last time this bunch actually did something for America - besides say 'No!!' - 2008?

When was the last time this president did ANYTHING besides getting something from the Norwegians and OBL?

Someone help me here!

843 days until the madness ends. Hope that helps.

@JTDan

Right wingers are such woosies.

Hey! It took 4 years for your president to even realize that ISIS is a potential threat and still they are coming to grips at how lethal, radical and smart they are. Now I am still waiting as to when the Obama admin. will actually do something to combat ISIS instead of telling them what they WON'T do!

Remember that guy who could never admit anything wrong? Bush? Cheyney? Rumsfeld?

Really, compare that to 6 years of Obama that has NEVER admitted to anything, let alone wrongdoing EVER. This the most narcissistic, self-centered, ego loving president EVER in U.S. History. No one comes even remotely close.

@Bgood41

Obama is a case of serial misguided leadership with narcissist mentality that deceived many bots as" change to nowhere". Blaming Bush game is getting too old and too cliche.

Answer: because that is the only thing the looney left have, either that or grabbing at straws.

His judgement in relying on face saving on the air coalition and Iraqi military with Kurd and Syrian free army that he once called "a fantasy group", is like a kid plays with war toy game. Well, many are dying, and he is still indecisive of the whole situation: manageable, short or long engagement, war or no war.

Answer: Legacy and Polls are THE MOST important thing to the do nothing anointed one...and oh, there's Golf.

The semantic game also should be over since the world will be in a long haul against these Muslim fanatic extremists. Shame!

Answer: Bomb them as much as possible, scatter them like ants, Repeat process for another 843 days and let another sucker deal with the man-caused disaster.

Some can see no wrong in the Obama administration when it is frighteningly clear the whole administration is a mess. Many blame the Republican Congress, well with a leader who does not lead and makes incredibly costly mistakes I would not cooperate with Obama either.

And for admitting wrong good for Obama on this point, though he did blame Intel!. The problem is it's a much longer list than just this. For respect he must continue with the mistakes he's made.

Simply put, this is now Obama's mess. Yes, it's a longer term consequence of interventions by the several previous presidents as well, but since Obama accepted the mantle of leadership whatever happens is his responsibility until he leaves office. Each president is responsible for their own actions and the consequences, short and long-term. Where does the buck stop?

Face it Obamapologists, Obama and his administration's incompetence has brought things to where they are now. Quit passing the buck, man up, and get some sack.

SushiSake:

Lol! Boehner and his derelict bunch of zero work ethic Congressional Republican buddies are actually going to do something? When was the last time this bunch actually did something for America - besides say 'No!!' - 2008? Someone help me here!

I'll be happy to help you out.

As of August, 352 bills had been passed by Congress and are waiting on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to be brought up for a vote. Of these bills:

98% passed with bipartisan support

Nearly 70% passed with 2/3rds support or more

Over 50% passed with no opposition at all

And 55 were introduced by Democrats

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) deliberately refuses to bring them up for a vote. There's your "do-nothing Congress". You're welcome.

horizon360:

What Obama said is that U.S. Intelligence Agencies misjudged both the strength of the ISIL militant organization and underestimated the willingness of the Iraqi forces to oppose them.

Quick, how many months ago did ISIS capture Fallujah?

Did Obama say that he has been skipping his daily intelligence briefings for the past six years? Because that's been a consistent complaint from both the intelligence community and even his own staff.

What he failed to properly acknowledge was that he as Commander In Chief showed poor judgment in allying himself with forces in the intelligence community that have vested bureaucratic budgetary interests in encouraging U.S. engagement in foreign conflicts.

Obama may be the first Commander in Chief with no responsibility whatsoever. Where does the buck stop again? In the campaign accounts?

Obama lives now in an advisorial cocoon and cannot hear anything coming from beyond the silk wrappings of his political coterie of comforters.

He lives on the (bleep)ing golf course.

The issue is the quality of intelligence available to the President. AGENCY sources ALWAYS push the agendas they made their career bones on. What they want is to imagine themselves as policy advisors before they retire from farming. The mistake Obama is making (has been making) is bad policy based on faulty intelligence. He is overreacting because he is listening only to voices that tell him he needs to take action. Actually by all measures doing nothing was a better option. Do not continue to support Maliki for a second term as Iraq president. Do not arm Syrian separatists because your intelligence advisors believe (tell you) they are moderates whose loyalty is unshakable. Do not have a CIA Director (Leon Panetta) announcing hubristically to the world on numerous occasions that Assad will fall SOON thereby encouraging ISIL to move more rapidly towards Damascus. Do not bomb Syrian territory in direct contradiction to a resolution by the UN Security Council. When Fallujah on the Euphrates fell in January 2013 (without warning) there were no voices coming out of U.S. intelligence about a grand campaign by Islamists rumbling onwards towards Al Tabqah on the way to Aleppo Vilayet. Short sightedness determined policy because agencies were artificially (bureaucratically) conflicted between Iraq matters and Syria matters. Not a historian in the room (and heaven forbid someone well versed in Islam or pre-Mandate geography). Obama needs more and longer vacations away from his blinkered advisors. He needs more time to think, and different partners to play golf with.

Obama needs more and longer vacations away from his blinkered advisors. He needs more time to think, and different partners to play golf with.

Are you suggesting that Obama can figure out a solution all on his own? What past experience, research, or accomplishment would he draw such wisdom from? He has none.

In Alcoholic Anonymous and any number of like minded 12 step programs; the first step in addressing the problem is to admit that there is a problem in the first place.

If they have a 12 step program for dealing with problem presidencies then Obama has at least taken the first step.