By Steven T. Dennis and JM Rieger

The White House is not ducking the word “war.” Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the United States is “at war with ISIL” during a Friday news conference, but was also insistent in noting it will not be like the previous Iraq War, reiterating no ground forces would be engaged in combat. “In the same way that the United State is as war with al-Qaida and its affiliates around the globe, the United States is at war with ISIL,” Earnest said. “This is not a situation of ISIL against the United States. ISIL is waging a war against the broader international community.”