Beltway Insider: Obama Promises No U.S. Troops; Putin Remains In Ukraine; Gun Reform Op-Ed; Mid-Terms

President Barack Obama announced the United States will not send combat troops to assist the Iraqi government fight the escalating insurgency from the terror group, loyal to former leader Osama Bin Laden, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

 

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week dropped three percentage points to 40% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased four percentage points to 55%. 

Obama Promises No U.S. Troops

President Barack Obama addressed the media with a very clear statement on military involvement promising no troops as news the strengthening terrorist insurgence has taken several key Iraqi cities on an apparent, unstoppable, march to the capital of Baghdad.

"We will not be sending U.S. troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options that could help support Iraqi security forces, and I'll be reviewing those options in the days ahead," President Obama said.

Although the President has stated emphatically "no combat troops," the Military's newest aircraft carrier, U.S.S. George WH Bush is on its way to the North Arabian Sea as both deterrent and in support of the United States' partnership with the Iraqi government.

The president did not, however, indicate if his statement was specific to only boots on the ground. Nor did he indicate if bombing raids were out of the question.

 "Over the last several days, we've seen significant gains made by ISIL, a terrorist organization that operates in both Iraq and in Syria.  In the face of a terrorist offensive, Iraqi security forces have proven unable to defend a number of cities, which has allowed the terrorists to overrun a part of Iraq's territory.  And this poses a danger to Iraq and its people.  And given the nature of these terrorists, it could pose a threat eventually to American interests as well," the President said.

The group who has undergone several name changes seems to have settled on ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant although the international press uses the acronym ISIS, short for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The ISIL/ISIS is quickly overtaking key Iraqi cities with a march for Baghdad apparently a crucial objective. Dedicated to dominance through any means, the ISIL/ISIS uses standard terror tactics to exact its objective striking fear and disabling the population and retaliation.

Led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIL/ISIS were once loyalists of al-Qaeda and the Taliban and reared on al-Qaeda's global  victories including the September 11, 2001 Terror attack on the United States. Loyalty to former Taliban leader Osama Bin Laden, the ISIL/ISIS is dedicated to furthering Islamic fundamentalist beliefs which include harsh and cruel treatment of women.

 "The situation in Iraq is grave and we're actively working with Iraqi leaders in support of their efforts to implement an effective and coordinated response to address this crisis.  We'll continue to provide all appropriate assistance to the government of Iraq, to assist it in our common fight against the threat that ISIL poses to Iraq in the region," said Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

The United States has remained dedicated to building a partnership with leaders in these extremists' countries given certain criteria and democratic objectives are met.

The present crisis has drawn the attention of the world media as it coincides with the presidents continued efforts to withdraw all troops from neighboring Afghanistan after more than a decade of effort to liberate the country from al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

"I do want to be clear though, this is not solely or even primarily a military challenge.  Over the past decade, American troops have made extraordinary sacrifices to give Iraqis an opportunity to claim their own future.  Unfortunately, Iraq's leaders have been unable to overcome too often the mistrust and sectarian differences that have long been simmering there, and that's created vulnerabilities within the Iraqi government as well as their security forces," the President said.

ISIL/ISIS, Syria, Iran and Israel

The ISIL/ISIS is aligned with neighboring Syria and its dictatorial leader, Basher Al-Assad. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated he does not support Syria or Al-Assad's pursuits, Russian made arms are being used by both Syrian loyalists and ISIL/ISIS.

ISIL/ISIS has replied clearly to the Western condemnation with an escalation of violence in addition to car bombs, suicide market bombings and a recent attack on the Turkish Consulate aimed at destabilizing Iraq's current already unstable government structure.

"We condemn ISIL's despicable attack on the Turkish consulate in Mosul.  And we call for the immediate release of Turkey's kidnapped diplomatic and security personnel.  We're in touch with the governments of Turkey and Iraq, and stand ready to provide any appropriate assistance," Earnest said.

Hoping for loyalty and solidarity from the local Mosul population, ISIL/ISIS has offered returning residents discounts on gasoline, water and other necessities.

As the two countries, Iraq and Syria, align, which could essentially renew the effort to oust Syrian leader Basher al-Assad and activate the failed Syrian policy, the escalation in fighting in the volatile and unstable region brings increased concerns of the security of American ally Israel.

The third erratic variable in this equation is Iran and its nuclear program. An Iraqi neighbor, Iran, remains watched under international monitoring organizations and continues to meet the dismantling criteria set by the P5 +1 committee. The current strength of the ISIL/ISIS is a concern as the politics; apparent victories seem contagious across this unpredictable, explosive and extremist rhetoric fueled zone.

The region has spawned many terror organizations dedicated to overthrowing the current government and instilling rulers dedicated to the same pursuits and of course, the dissolution of westernization and the great Satan America.

As the Iraqi government moves to defend itself against the rising civil division the world is left to wonder if these actions will  draw the United States back into a war thought long over with a new generation of terror extremists loyal to the methodology of former Taliban leader, Osama bin Laden.

Russian Troops Remain In Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has retained in direct violation of his pre-election statements, a looming presence determined to maintain the illegal annexation of Ukraine's territorial sovereignty.

The newly installed Ukrainian government is urging the beleaguered Russian President to leave the country and has gained the support of its people who overwhelming ousted the soviet guard and its old ways out in favor of a new and emerging new Ukraine.

Putin was openly called expletives by Ukraine's Interim Foreign Minister, Andrey Deshchitsa,  who called for the former KGB leader to leave the country.

Ukrainians believe the election of Petro Poroshensko has guaranteed the expulsion of any soviet governmental involvement.

Soviet Troops have yet to leave the Eastern Border and the Crimean peninsula is still under Soviet rule.

Costly Mid-term Elections

Constituents around the country are heading to the polls and sending a strong and resounding message to those within the Beltway of the authority, power and control resting in the three small and seemingly forgotten words, "We the People."

Issues, instead of party alliances, are becoming determining factors for the confidence of the voter as too often campaign promises are met with reversals leaving the constituents feeling betrayed. Out of touch politicians who refuse to act on issues that may alienate lobbyists are feeling the sting of a political pink slip.

Immigration reform is considered among the Sunday morning political pundits as one of the major factors in the ousting of House Majority leader Republican Eric Cantor, a seven-term incumbent in Virginia's 7th District by a political novice, an unknown college professor.

Dissecting the loss of Eric Cantor (R-VA), who was once considered the top contender for Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) position, when he retires, pundits' right and left are zeroing in on Immigration, and ambition which caused the Republican heir apparent to lose sight of his constituents.

The victory of Dave Brat, an Economics Professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA., and a Tea Party conservative, reverberated throughout Washington stunning the political circuit and presenting a call to arms to the Republican Party as the November elections can possibly shift the balance of power in the House.

Immigration Reform

President Obama has long championed an overhaul of the immigration system which he and fellow democrats believe cause unnecessary strain on the economy and all governmental services.

Cantor and other republicans agree to varying degrees the immigration system needs overhauled.

The key issues to understanding President Obama's Immigration plan falls, condensed, into two areas: pre-entry and post entry.

Dealing Pre-Entry in the President's Immigration Plan, simply means strengthening border control, security and essentially stopping as many illegals at the point of entry as possible.

Post Entry Immigration reform is more complex as the more than 11million illegal immigrants residing in the United States must be documented and through a variety of programs these individuals can earn American citizenship through military service or attending college which would upgrade the undocumented to legal or pending status.

Immigration reform is clearly more complex and detailed, as each of these two groups house many issues and sub-groups of topics, concerns, and focus within the issues.

When issues such as immigration reform and gun control are broached during the campaign trail they are reduced to very specific topics within the broad challenges. Politicians often shy away from the expansive interpretation and tend to offer a more simplistic response.

Cantor switched his position, which in all honesty was difficult to find in the last days of his minimal campaigning.

Gun Control reform laws will be the next issue that politicians will face that will have them seeing the political pink slip unless they decide the listen to their constituents.

Gun Reform Op-Ed

Gun reform will be the next issue that will reverberate as politicians refuse to vote to overhaul the gun reform laws creating stricter access to weapons and banning the sale and use of assault weapons, reducing the legal sale options.

We demand a plan and since American politicians have refused to listen, we the people of the United States are demanding action.

Politicians have hoped the backlash over gun control will end and we the people will go silently into the night. Hoping in time, our anger will subside, the ache of names, lists, injury, and tears will, over time, end.

Our leaders hope we'll all go back to our everyday routines and the horrific news of twenty children, six educators, seven college students, thirty theater goers, high school students, Columbines, Virginia Techs, lone gunmen,  angry and mentally ill, with access to assault weapons, handguns, shotguns, rifles and modified clips will subside.  

We go on and so does the next crazy, chasing numbers, hoping to outdo the last; looking for the fame, the infamy and finally paying back all those people, who  have spent lifetimes, known or unknown torturing the demented shooter.

A new horrific news story, a catastrophe, a natural disaster, global starvation something will capture our short attention span and we, the people, who are really demanding a plan, will go back to a simple and silenced outrage without using our voice to make our elected officials who sit on the Second Amendment and dine with the NRA lobbyist understand we are demanding change.

There is one and only one way Washington will hear the screams of the people: and that is by the vote.

Politicians you've seen it in action over immigration; now see it as the backlash of gun reform hits you like a bullet.

You vote no; we vote out. It's that simple. Challenges us.

 

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com, 

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