“We also see that ISIS leaders are very concerned about their own security. They are not moving particularly freely these days.” Does Barack Obama walk out of the front door of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, stroll down the street to a local, bar, and walk in, sit down and have a beer? Alone and unaccompanied? When he plays golf, does he drive over to the links alone, and play the course with his circle of friends and no security guards? Or is he not moving particularly freely these days? The fact that Islamic State leaders take security precautions doesn’t in the least mean that the Islamic State is losing.
Meanwhile, Earnest repeats the discredited claim that the Islamic State is losing territory. The Pentagon announced on April 13, 2015:
ISIL is no longer the dominant force in roughly 25 to 30% of the populated areas of Iraqi territory where it once had complete freedom of movement.
But just two days after the Pentagon’s announcement, the Islamic State began what ultimately became its successful siege of Ramadi, demonstrating all the characteristics of a confident, advancing force rather than a shattered, retreating one. Then, on April 22, came definitive confirmation. The map the Pentagon had used to illustrate its claim that the Islamic State had lost 25 to 30 percent of its territory was inaccurate and misleading, leaving out or obscuring information that made it appear as if the U.S. airstrikes had not been successful. The map showed territory that the Islamic State controlled in April 2015, and territory it had lost since August 2014 when the airstrikes started. However, the map did not show territory that the Islamic State had gained between August 2014 and April 2015. It left out all of western Syria, where the Islamic State had made significant gains.
Baghdad Bob is now firmly ensconced in the White House.
“White House Denies ISIS Has Established a Caliphate,” by Pam Key, Breitbart, May 21, 2015:
Thursday at the White House press briefing, when asked if he believes ISIS has a caliphate, press secretary Josh Earnest said, “No, I don’t believe that at all.”
Earnest said, “No, I don’t believe that at all. What we actually see is they do control some territory, but less than they used too [sic]. We also see that ISIS leaders are very concerned about their own security. They are not moving particularly freely these days. They are justifiably concerned about their safety because they know that the U.S. and our coalition partners have the capacity to take them off the battlefield.”
Don McKellar says
Actually, the man in the White House is Baghdad Barry. And it’s Baghdad Barry who’s giving the commands to all the Baghdad Bobs like Josh-buddy Earnest here. And to Baghdad Bob Kerry and all the rest.
Angemon says
Oh, for God’s sake. The size of the territory the islamic state controls bears no significance on whether it’s a caliphate or not. Whatever Josh “Not” Earnest believes or not has no relevance – they control the land, they decide the system of government. They say it’s a caliphate, muslims worldwide accept is as the legitimate caliphate. Al-Baghdadi graduated in islamic studies. What did Josh “Not” Earnest graduated in? Political science and policy studies? He wouldn’t recognize a caliphate even if he was taken prisoner and sold in a slave market.
nicu says
It doesn’t get into my head that nobody is able to stop them !
They don’t want is my opinion and they lie to us how bad the situation really is 🙁
William Lucas Harvey Jr. says
“White House denies that the Islamic State has established a caliphate, insists it has lost territory”.
TYPICAL White House and Obama Administration – being so apparently Pro Islam, and Pro Muslim, with an “Imperial Potus”, who makes DOCUMENTED Statements such as:
1. “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.”.
2. “Islam has always been part of America”,
3. “Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance.”.
4. “I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.”.
5. “The Islamic State is not Islamic”.
6. AND “The sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer”,
et. al., of course it WILL Defend Islam, and DENY an Islamic State Caliphate.
David, Thailand says
“White House denies that the Islamic State has established a caliphate, insists it has lost territory”
Bombs create craters, and it must be those craters that the WH designates as ‘territory’. Otherwise, the Islamic State is expanding, just like AQ was when Obama said it was on the run.
We are being lied to by the most powerful people on the planet, the US admin and its media cohorts.
Matthieu Baudin says
Ah, well, when Bagdad and Damascus fall, it will be a well thought out tactical retreat; no real cause for alarm.
somehistory says
Is says it is a caliphate…it hasn’t said how large is its territory, has it? They have *employees* in every country on the planet…do they lay claim to any of that *territory* ?
Those in the *admin* also don’t *think* that North Korea has the capabilities they claim and that some military analysts say the North Koreans have and/or that they share the knowledge of nukes with iran..
When Josh or Marie say, “We don’t think…”, they should stop with those three words. Then, they would be telling the truth.
Those lying for the devil aren’t helping anyone, not even themselves.
rcourtemanche says
The muppets on Obama’s strings. Must be hard to be loyal in Washington.
David, Thailand says
“They (ISIS leaders) are justifiably concerned about their safety because they know that the U.S. and our coalition partners have the capacity to take them off the battlefield.”
Well chosen words. American ‘capacity’ becomes irrelevant in the face of Obama’s determination to make no more than cosmetic, politically expedient strikes against the Islamic State.