The Islamic State is certainly at war with the U.S. But the U.S. is doing its level best to minimize that war. The Obama Administration’s luck in that regard, unfortunately, is unlikely to hold indefinitely. But Kerry has other priorities: after all, Jesus wants us to go to war against global warming.
“Kerry: U.S. not at war with ISIS,” by Elise Labott, Laura Smith-Spark and Ray Sanchez, CNN, September 11, 2014 (thanks to Jerk Chicken):
(CNN) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday would not say the United States is at war with ISIS, telling CNN in an interview that the administration’s strategy includes “many different things that one doesn’t think of normally in context of war.”
“What we are doing is engaging in a very significant counter-terrorism operation,” Kerry told CNN’s Elise Labott in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “It’s going to go on for some period of time. If somebody wants to think about it as being a war with ISIL, they can do so, but the fact is it’s a major counterterrorism operation that will have many different moving parts.”
Kicking off meetings with leaders from key Arab countries in Saudi Arabia to enlist regional support for a global coalition to defeat ISIS, Kerry defended the administration’s insistence that the 2001 authority to go after al Qaeda and affiliates applies to ISIS even if the two groups have publicly split from each other. He insisted that the group’s origin as an al Qaeda affiliate is enough to consider them connected.
“This group is and has been al Qaeda,” Kerry said. “By trying to change its name, it doesn’t change who it is, what it does.”
Asked how much of the interpretation lets Congress get away from a vote on going after ISIS — a scenario lawmakers would like to avoid in an election year — Kerry responded “none.”
Kerry said there is a distinction between ISIS and terror groups operating in Somalia and Yemen.
“ISIL is an animal unto itself,” he told CNN. “And it is significantly such a threat because of the foreign fighters that are attracted to it — which you don’t see in Somalia … similarly in Yemen. It is promising to do things externally as those other groups are not. And thirdly, most importantly, it’s attracting a significant coalition to go and destroy it.”
Kerry said the opposition battling the Assad regime in Syria has been outgunned and outmanned but the administration believes that equation can change “if they receive proper training, if there are recruits that come in, and if it grows over a period of time.”
The regime’s legitimacy could never be restored, Kerry said.
“It is going to be our policy to separate Assad, who is mostly in the western part of Syria, in a certain corridor from the eastern part of Syria, which he doesn’t control,” Kerry said. “ISIL controls that part. So it is clearly … not a very difficult task to target ISIL.”…
It will be interesting to see if he can back that up.
Neil Jennison says
The “global warming” that stopped over a decade ago?
The USA is governed by idiots and we in the UK are governed by idiots. At least most of your idiots are American, we are governed by foreign idiots from the EUSSR.
ApolloSpeaks says
BUSH AGAIN DEFEATS GORE
Global War On Terror trumps Global War On Climate Change
Click http://www.apollospeaks.com for the article.
Beagle says
The Obama Administration plans to degrade and destroy the IS using military force. But that is not war.
We’re in good hands.
/facepalm
PRCS says
Kerry–whether ignorant or afraid to offend–does the public no good with his “it isn’t Islam” statements.
But he’s correct, here.
When the governments of legitimate nations go to war, it is against the governments of other legitimate nations, not against individuals or groups who have declared war against them.
That Islam teaches reversion, dhimmitude, or warfare is THEIR belief–their RELIGIOUS belief–and we are not obliged to play along.
Our leaders should tell our fellow citizens exactly what drives the ISIS/ISIL/IS belief that they are at war with us and that International and U.S. law trumps their idiotic 1400 year old religious beliefs.
mariam rove says
He may be right. But the Islamic states are at war with us. M
PRCS says
That’s my point, M.
Of course, they’re not really at war with us. As you know, they’re at war with EVERY filthy unbeliever.
Carlos Danger says
Our enemy the, the Caliph, is much more honest than our “leaders”, President Obama and Secretary Kerry.
the Caliph tells us exactly what he intends on doing, how he will do it, and what his intended result will be.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Kerry chase their tails, can not articulate a cohesive strategy, have no idea who the members of their proposed coalition will be, and would not recognize victory if it bites them in the arse.
Frank Scarn says
“America is not going to “war,” per say, according to Secretary of State John Kerry and White House Press Sec. Josh Earnest.”
But ISIS says it is very much at war with America. And ISIS further says that any attack on it means America is at war with Islam and Muslims.
Oh, oh.
Obama is really is a jam here, a tight spot of his own making. He has to pretend that he really, really wants to rid the world of ISIS. But in his heart he’s quite pleased with ISIS because ISIS is advancing the cause of Islam, and that is very much one of his goals. The evidence for that is abundant. E.g., “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.”
ISIS is advancing Islam in a dramatic, authentically Islamic way, and its means have historical precedent – making their sword blades bloody is how Muslims captured all of “their lands.” And ALL of it is supported by commands from their Koran.
But – but that fact is making things uncomfortable for President POS.
And for his flaks who have to support this crap and make excuses. “Nobel Peace Prize winner goes to war and kills Muzzies” is not a great headline. LOL,
Champ says
The Islamic State is certainly at war with the U.S.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exactly! ..that is plain to see.
And kerry is such a clown, he reminds me of Stan Laurel 😀
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRc5fqamC_IQ47NAjqdCCBnhiNzkUNPmf7VGwTzpN3gIhYKQ2noPA
somehistory says
Yes, Champ, but I feel bad thinking that of poor Stan.
And looking at that photo, then reading the words about an armed conflict that is not *war*…I began thinking of and reading Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and Ecc. 4:13 (among many )seems to fit. “Better is a needy but wise child than an old but stupid king, who has not come to know enough to be warned any longer.”
Champ says
I agree, Somehistory, sorry …yes, Stan Laurel is such a sweet ole soul 🙂
Those are great Bible verses …
And kerry would be doing us all a great service if he heeded the following verse from Proverbs:
“Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.” — Proverbs 24:7
Judi says
Another fine mess you got me into Stanley!!
Milan says
someone punch that idiot in the face
Kirk Hogan says
If any of the readers out there ever get a chance to actuallt TALK to ‘The Nantucket Hamster’…..please ask him this: “Why it is that when you were digging the rice ‘shrapnel’ out of your backside…you left your head there instead?”
No Fear says
It’s interesting how ALL the politicians are saying that the Islamic State has nothing to do with Islam….politicians think if you say something for long enough it will become the truth.
duh_swami says
JK. Is the fourth most interesting man in the world. He and he alone can scare the birds out of the trees…Flowers have been known to wilt when he walks by, and he casts no reflection in a mirror. We are lucky to have such a great man representing us.
Myxlplik says
The ultimate goal is to use Muslim armies to enforce a western version of Multiculturalism over us and the rest of the world, because ISIS has nothing to do with Islam…. because if ISIS wins, it sullies the religion of multiculturalism in the west.
Great plan :). lol
gravenimage says
Kerry: U.S. not at war with Islamic State
………………………
Really, just another twist on “we are not at war with Islam”.
Dave J says
Kerry does come across an upper class twit. Bet he is well mocked in the privacy of our enemy’s tent.
We are going to destroy them, but we are not at war with them, even ‘tho they are actively at war with us, really?
Islam just shows that evolution can retrograde into some very blind alleys, at least for a while. The only answer to Ebola of the soul is sunshine, honesty and disinfectant
Will Doohan says
I lIke that last sentence. Maybe we could make a phrase out of it like “Islam is the Ebola of religions.”
Frank S. says
Secretary Kerry & Co, they never fail to entertain in the art of stupidity as far as understanding what Islam is all about.
Prinz Eugen says
So bombing some trucks and artillery pieces is not war? Guess D-Day was merely a beach party?
Imam Barak will not DEFEAT ISIS/ISIL or whatever various names he uses to confuse the issue, they are linked with his closest allies, the moslem brotherhood!
He will bomb here and there, distribute more arms to his moslem terrorist pals, then the WH and media will claim victory and move on to dissolving the Constitution.
If ISIS holds Faluja as one of their great conquests, then Faluja should have been turned into a rubble heap — IF Barak was serious.
bobm says
ODO goes to Mecca… see the ARABS smirking…
this little piggy says
He looks like he’s from a Laurel & Harry film.
Paula@bacavalley.com says
Funny you should mention it. Our foreign policy could be best described as “Who’s On First”.
eric says
Laurel & who?
Paula says
Oo-o-ps… dyslectic moment!
terry says
Reminds me of a line from Roy Orbison, ” It’s only make believe.”
Noah Reese says
Something about Kerry has always put me in mind of a dotty old spinster.
Jarhead says
The inbred, radical , murdering muslims change their name more often than the POTUS. Still all ‘same-0, same-0’ – – Peaceful religion – -never going to happen – -and we send a nincompoop, who served in Nam, to attempt to negotiate with these maggots – – Neville Lurch Hanoi Traitor Kerry!
Semper Fi