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Obama Speech Excerpt: We’re Going to (Air) War Against ISIS

President Barack Obama will call for a new war to “destroy” ISIS in his speech tonight — one that will include air strikes against the group in Iraq and Syria.  

The excepts make clear Obama will no longer merely engage in strikes against ISIS, also known as ISIL or the Islamic State, just in Iraq.

“So tonight, with a new Iraqi government in place, and following consultations with allies abroad and Congress at home, I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat. Our objective is clear: we will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy,” Obama will say, according to the excerpt.

Obama also is expected to draw a contrast with the ground wars he inherited. Air strikes yes, ground troops, no:

“But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.”

The White House has previously said Obama believes he has the authority to implement his strategy without new authority from Congress, but would welcome Congress’s support.  

Obama also has been lobbying lawmakers today for authorization for arming and training Syrian rebels .  


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