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Obama: Rise of the Islamic State caught me by surprise

Dec 9, 2016 8:47 am By Robert Spencer

There is no reason for Obama to have been surprised. In my book The Complete Infidel’s Guide to ISIS, I show how the Islamic State was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s old al-Qaeda in Iraq group, and had plans as far back as ten years ago or more to establish a caliphate in Iraq. When Obama withdrew American troops from Iraq and left all the power in the hands of the weak U.S.-installed Shia government in Baghdad, it was inevitable that there would be a Sunni reaction, and easy to see that this reaction would likely coalesce around existing jihad groups, with the strongest one establishing its own Sunni state, and the one with caliphate dreams being the best situated to establish such a state.

American intelligence apparently missed all this. Why? In large part because Obama has removed all mention of Islam and jihad from counterterror training and analysis. The establishment analysts who evaluated the situation for Obama at the time of the withdrawal from Iraq were certain that if the Shi’ites were told to include some Sunnis in the Baghdad government, they would comply and all would be well, because they were operating under numerous false and politically correct assumptions about Islam, the Sunni-Shia split, and Islam’s compatibility with democratic rule. If they had dared to throw off their politically correct blinders and evaluate the situation as it actually was, they would have seen the Islamic State coming a mile off.

“ISIS rise surprised Obama, US intelligence,” by Kevin Liptak, CNN, December 7, 2016:

ISIS’ march across Iraq and Syria — a campaign that’s forced President Barack Obama to return small numbers of US troops to the region, even after touting an end to the decade-long ground offensives there — came as a surprise to US intelligence, the President told CNN in a new special report.

The terror organization’s rise in a tumultuous Middle East has provided Obama some of the toughest decisions of his presidency, choices that CNN’s Fareed Zakaria explores in “The Legacy of Barack Obama” airing Wednesday.

“The ability of ISIL to not just mass inside of Syria, but then to initiate major land offensives that took Mosul, for example, that was not on my intelligence radar screen,” Obama told Zakaria, using the administration’s term for the Islamic State terror group.

As Obama’s presidency concludes, it’s clearer than ever he’ll depart the White House with Syrians facing nearly unyielding misery.

The city of Aleppo has become a nightmare for the tens of thousands of Syrians still living there, short on food and medical supplies as cold winter weather sets in. The conflict has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, spurred a destabilizing refugee crisis in Europe, and led to the rise of a terror group that Obama admits he didn’t see coming.

It’s a legacy he says haunts him, but as he explains to Zakaria in Wednesday’s special, the decisions he did make were the best he could muster in a country with no good choices.

Avoiding a large scale ground conflict in Syria “is the smartest decision from a menu of bad options that were available to us,” he told Zakaria for the special, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on CNN.
In interviews with Obama and those who worked in his administration during the early days of the Syrian conflict, a picture emerges of a president conflicted about how best to avoid the bloody reality that eventually emerged….

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Filed Under: Barack Obama, Featured, Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), willful ignorance Tagged With: CNN, Fareed Zakaria


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Comments

  1. ich says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 8:53 am

    im so glad obama is gone soon

    Obama….please take trudeau with you…you guys can hold hands and take selfies

    • Rob says

      Dec 10, 2016 at 6:28 am

      I was amazed to see a video of one of the top scientists refer to Obama as a Muslim terrorist…

      At least (unlike Obama himself) he was not afraid to name the problem.

    • A Harris USA says

      Dec 10, 2016 at 5:40 pm

      Obama is a freaking Muslim….. He was too busy chastising Christians……….for defending themselves in the 1300’s against Islam!!! Trudeau is a freaking fool… So are the morons who put him in office.. I never voted for either of the damn idiot fools

  2. Michael Laudahn says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 8:53 am

    Taqqiya

  3. P2 says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:05 am

    Maybe that’s because he doesn’t listen to anyone who doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear.

    • Charles says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 9:11 am

      Being a prime Imamm himself, Osama refuses to listen to any “bad news” concerning his islamic (Donkey molesting) Brothers!
      That’s all there is to it! When you worship SATAN, your BLIND to any and all “distractions”.

    • Don McKellar says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 9:19 am

      He wouldn’t just not listen to them — he fired them!

      One of the worst examples of a pompous, self-righteous left-fascist leaders anybody has ever seen — or a secret moslem in the White House. Not sure which.

      • Laura says

        Dec 10, 2016 at 9:06 am

        Exactly, Don McKellar! These same generals O fired because he didn’t agree with their assessments of the situation in the ME are the very ones that Trump is appointing!

  4. Bill says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:05 am

    I call BS, He, Valerie Jarrett, Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton intentionally created this monster. It suits his purpose now to law the foundation for claiming surprise. Just another lie, the creation of fake news for the masses. The real record will ultimately reveal the depth of the treason of each of these persons.

    • TR says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 9:42 am

      Bill, I agree, the Agenda driven Obama Administration with criminal intent cultivated ISIS.
      The Middle East, Europe and the USA are now paying the price.
      Run! Barry, Run!

    • ElderlyZionist says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 11:10 am

      +1

      • Mac-101 says

        Dec 9, 2016 at 7:51 pm

        +2

        • Mong says

          Dec 9, 2016 at 10:42 pm

          +3

    • Angemon says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 2:22 pm

      The members of ISIS didn’t appear out of thin air, Bill. If you want to blame someone for ISIS, blame the people whose policies going back decades ended up creating them: Saddam and Assad.

      • Mong says

        Dec 9, 2016 at 10:48 pm

        You mean the people who tried to contain it? We talk about Assad bombing his own people but his people are ISIS, we’re bombing them too. This wicked dictator stuff is a bit overplayed. I think we need to look at the ideology of ISIS a bit more closely. Which ideology is that again?

  5. Charlie in NY says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:08 am

    Obama’s “surprise” is no more than the foreseeable consequence of looking at the Muslim world and its dysfunctions through the rose-tinted glasses of Edward Said’s “Orientalism” and the “see no evil in non-Western cultures” mindset promoted by the fashionable post-modern, post-colonial schools of thought – though I use that last word advisedly – prevalent in the Academy and its increasing number of graduates taking up positions of influence.
    Whenever theories are allowed to overrule evidence, bad things will happen. Islamic State is but one example. The West’s failure to understand what the Arab Spring was actually about is another. The West’s refusal to see the Israeli-Arab conflict in its true light, not as a “normal” dispute over territory but as a Muslim theological imperative to return the Jews (and to a lesser extent Israel’s Christian and “heretical” Muslim populations) to their Allah-mandated status as a weak and powerless minority living at the sufferance of their superior Muslim overlords, is yet another.

  6. Don McKellar says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:14 am

    I was watching some Fox news and each show had a segment where Obama makes this ludicrous claim and then there is clip after clip after clip of all the intelligence officials all completely discrediting him — all at the time when he claims he wasn’t informed! It was astounding! What a complete joke this moslem/empty suit/left-fascist (whatever the hell he is) is as a president!

    • somehistory says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 9:29 am

      There are some people who do evil, but claim stupidity when caught in the evil so as to avoid punishment for having engaged in evil. These ones would rather be ridiculed for being stupid than own up to the evil and receive just deserts.

      Every thing he learned, he got from the newspaper.

      • Darryl Kerney says

        Dec 9, 2016 at 7:25 pm

        somehistory,
        you correctly said,
        “These ones would rather be ridiculed for being stupid than own up to the evil and receive just deserts.”

        Exactly, because they hope by feigning surprise they will avoid the gallows.

        • TR says

          Dec 10, 2016 at 1:29 pm

          =1

  7. Dan says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:35 am

    Well here’s proof they ain’t learned nuthin’.

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/09/biden-says-world-will-look-to-liberal-canadian-prime-minister-trudeau.html

    • Darryl Kerney says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      the world will look to trudeau, if they aren’t ones themselves they will see a Blithering Idiot ! A progressive narcissistic fool who is always sure to make the worst choice based on his delusional belief that if he’s nice enough and showers hostile elements with OUR money he can unite the islamists and communists and every other monstrous group of despicable parasites and integrate them into one big happy world of rainbows and “sunny ways”, he is so obviously oblivious it really is painful to witness for all of us who recognize totalitarian tendencies and collectivist disorder. Hey, I just came up with that one now !
      Collectivist Disorder,
      I LIKE IT !
      I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard or read it anywhere before, please correct me if I’m borrowing it without realizing !, but,either way,

      Everyone please feel free to use it widely and often !

      • Mong says

        Dec 9, 2016 at 10:57 pm

        I’ve never heard of it before but it’s a perfect diagnosis. When people have beliefs or behaviours which are at odds with reason, you’ll more often than not find some diagnosable disorder. Collectivist Disorder is what’s going on here. You should write a brief diagnostic criteria!

        • Darryl Kerney says

          Dec 10, 2016 at 6:05 pm

          yes, that’s a good idea. i think i will.
          However, Solzhenitsyn wrote a massive and chilling one called The Gulag Archipelago exposing the inevitable horrors of collectivism, i wish everyone would read it…..

  8. ibrahim itace muhammed says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 10:36 am

    but obama must be told about baghdadi(elliot) the mossad agent who leads proxy war on behalf of wicked jews to weakene muslim nations in the region for israeli hegemony.isis is a fake islamic group.in reality it is an armed wing fighting for jewish cause to dominate muslim world. some one told me that his brother who defected from isis gorrilas exposed the whole secret to him that isis is truly fighting for racist state of israel.those providing military intelligence are all jews.that is why isis never attacked israel or any israli interests.all atrocities are being meted on muslims and christian arabs who remain loyal their home land.we also received a report that israelis were caught providing training and military intelligence to boko haram an affiliate terrorist group of isis in nigeria.the israeli govt put pressure on nigerian govt and the israelis were released in discret. thus,if trump is serious in wiping out isis he should be ready to confront the evil jewish state,because it the hearbeat of isis.if americans are wise they should review their friendship with evil jews. as i said in one of my comments, mossad coardinated 9/11 attack on the united states using alqaeda terrorist group promoted by the west to fight proxy war against soviete union; and now turned against the west to serve their mentors the jews.we have been saying that jews are people of evil machinations.filthy mithraist christians are afraid to say it .why?these people are human like you,not supernatural.why fearing them?

    • Custos Custodum says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 11:36 am

      Sorry Ibe your screed is unreadable. Three suggestions.

      (1) Use paragraphs.

      (2) Capitalize.

      (3) Go easy on the meds.

      • Mong says

        Dec 9, 2016 at 11:03 pm

        Maybe;

        1) Use paragraphs.

        2) Capitalise.

        3) Take your meds.

    • billybob says

      Dec 9, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      Conspiracy theorist. Not a very intelligent one at that. To imagine Israel in bed with Baghdadi? What a joke! They don’t even speak the same language – so to speak. What I am saying is that you couldn’t find two more natural enemies if you tried. ISIS is driven by extreme Wahhabism. You know they share your passionate hatred for Jews. There is no way they could hold their noses long enough to make any dealings with them. “that is why isis never attacked israel…” Gimme a break! If they attacked Israel, they would be instantly wiped out. Israel doesn’t fool around – she knows how to deal with jihadis better than anyone on this planet.

  9. August West says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Obama is clueless to this day.

    During this interview he *still* failed to call The Islamic State by its correct name calling it ISIL instead.

    He recently gave the world yet another one of his tired patronizing lectures about how “we” must avoid the appearance of a US vs Islam war.

    He also took credit for his assertion that we stopped foreign terrorism on US sol.

    The man is a liar and a propagandist. We will soon find put exactly how utterly bankrupt his foreign policy is.

    Good riddence Obama

  10. Mark A says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    I’m so glad the Obama is leaving office and that the US electorate rejected Hillary Clinton, who would have been at least as bad in office as Obama and probably worse.

    Obama surprised by the rise of ISIS? I’m not surprised by that at all. Obama refused to say the words “Islamic terrorism” and denied that ISIS had anything to do with Islam. We should not be surprised that a President who refused to recognize what ISIS was/is would also be surprised by its development.

    President Obama surrounded himself with sycophants and leftist political operatives whose goal was to “fundamentally transform America” into the leftist paradise of their dreams. They seriously damaged the U.S. at home and abroad but now, thankfully, they are leaving office.

    President-elect Trump has appointed some serious people to his Cabinet. Let’s hope they can repair the damage Obama has done and respond meaningfully to Islamic jihad, which remains the most significant foreign policy and security threat to western countries.

  11. Angemon says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    There is no reason for Obama to have been surprised.

    According to a report by the Government Accountability Institute in 2014, Obama only attended 42% of the scheduled Presidential Daily Briefs. But what else could be expected of someone arrogant enough to say:

    “I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m going to think I’m a better political director than my political director.

    He probably thought he was a better intelligence briefer than his intelligence briefers as well…

  12. common sense says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    July 2007- Dubya was advised by his security council to NOT leave Iraq too soon and held a press conference warning us that something like ISIS would emerge. His team totally predicted it.

    Bush at least 1) attend his briefings 2) let us know what he was doing with our military 3) he did not pretend it was ‘his’ “intelligence radar” one item missing from the bag of tools currently residing in the White house and capitol hill courtesy of our frenemies, a bunch of fellow American, know it all, uninformed and complaint, asshole liberal communist, cry baby, fools.
    Liberals honestly think if Barry or Bill Mahr said something it must be true.

  13. Eric Jones says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    So Obama did not know about ISIS. Is this why he fired General Flynn for warming Obama about ISIS? All the while traitor John McCain met with Baghdadi in Iraq on one of McCain’s traitor missions. I quess Obama did not know about that either. In a meeting regarding ISIS Obama is qouted to have said that he ‘is not intereted in victory’ regarding ISIS.

    O Obama, do you ever tell the truth?

    Eric

  14. Charles says

    Dec 9, 2016 at 9:03 pm

    OSAMA was not “surprised”. He is lying! As usual. He has been a friend to “the Satanic State” (ISIS) since it began!
    If only we could deport him! Back to Indonesia!

  15. udnerbed cat says

    Dec 10, 2016 at 12:34 am

    As the Obama campaigne vapors started to coalesce in Chicago, was Bill A. aware, that the political ideology of the left, that was shared socialism, was the entry key to a political party, who did not know that ideology of Islam had found it’s legitamacy to pass into the organizations in America. Organization that had been established were waiting in the wings to do their darwah. The perfect candidate arrived ready to orchestrate the role of a muslim. Nearly every connection was made. So knowing the doctrine, and the candidate’s history it is once again a “come on guys” moment that he did not know or was taken by surprise at the spread of isis….when nearly every decision from the purge of words from security, to the meetings and cash flow, would beg to differ.

    • underbed cat says

      Dec 10, 2016 at 10:35 am

      Just to add to the irony is the claim by Obama that Russians influenced the elections….hmmm curious….just like Iran or Saudi Arabia prehaps….influenced him. But shhhh. Silence infidel. However that was done we have paper ballots sir, so the Green party is collecting cash from who?

  16. Az gal says

    Dec 10, 2016 at 7:01 am

    Every time Obama opens his mouth, he lies.
    He is playing dumb.
    Buh bye BO. Please be gone soon.

  17. Cretius says

    Dec 11, 2016 at 11:06 am

    Is Obama a liar or a fool or both?

  18. Cretius says

    Dec 12, 2016 at 9:46 am

    “In short, anytime non-Muslims dare to overstep their Sharia-designated “inferior” status, supremacist Muslims become violently aggrieved.

    People of the West are raised on the unique idea of treating others as they would be treated.
    This is not the sort of grievance that animates many Muslims – and certainly not those who resort to terrorism.

    Rather, they are animated by a supremacist-based grievance: they get angry seeing infidels on an equal footing with Muslims. And they get murderous seeing infidels actually lording over Muslims.
    Islamic doctrine, which persuades Muslims into believing they are superior to non-Muslims — who are even likened to dogs and cattle — imbues Muslims with this sense of entitlement.

  19. SweetOlBob says

    Dec 12, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    Just more proof that Obama is a Luckin’ Fiar ! Translations on request.

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