Beltway Insider: Obama Gathers Support for War on ISIL; 9/11 Remembered; Third Hostage Beheaded

President Obama addressed the American people, on the eve of the 13th Commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, on the growing threat and global concern over the vicious brutality of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

 

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week increased one percentage point to 41% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased three percentage points to 54%. 

Obama Addresses Nation on ISIS/ISIL

President Obama used the eve of the September 11, 2001 Day of Remembrance to address the escalation of the world's newest terror threat loyal to al-Qaeda, and to declare a unified determination with allies and partners to rid the world of this newest, brutal, threat to peaceful existence.

"Our objective is clear:  We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy," the President said.

The president detailed a four part strategy that includes continued and intensified airstrikes, the deployment of no more than 1000 military personal, ramping up our counterterrorism smart war all actions directed at decimating the ISIS/ISIL headquarters, through targeted airstrikes which, in theory, should eradicate the core of ISIS/ISIL and, for a season dismantle the escalating terror organization.

"So this is our strategy.  And in each of these four parts of our strategy, America will be joined by a broad coalition of partners.  Already, allies are flying planes with us over Iraq; sending arms and assistance to Iraqi security forces and the Syrian opposition; sharing intelligence; and providing billions of dollars in humanitarian aid," the president said.

Continuing to reiterate his read my lips slogan of "no boots on the ground" the President prepared the public for involvement in a smart war that utilizes the latest technological advances, the sharpest allied forces warfare planning with airstrikes carried out with precision.  

"It will take time to eradicate a cancer like ISIL.  And any time we take military action, there are risks involved especially to the servicemen and women who carry out these missions.  But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil," the president said.

Having been successful in galvanizing the G7 member nation, partners and allies in the fight for territorial sovereignty in the Ukraine Russian conflict as well as keeping the world poised on the possibility of war with Syrians Basher Al Assad. The president, his team and all allies and partners are set to counter, dismantle, destroy and exterminate the core of ISIS/ISIL.

The American people are looking for strategy and a leader who will find the target, the one who raised the knife, the one who issued the order to kill American citizens and with bold audacity show the both  target and objective has been met regardless if an escalated ground war counters promises made before American citizens were slaughtered.

 "Secretary Kerry was in Iraq today meeting with the new government and supporting their efforts to promote unity.  And in the coming days he will travel across the Middle East and Europe to enlist more partners in this fight, especially Arab nations who can help mobilize Sunni communities in Iraq and Syria, to drive these terrorists from their lands.  This is American leadership at its best:  We stand with people who fight for their own freedom, and we rally other nations on behalf of our common security and common humanity," the President said.

A recent poll, noted on ABC Nighlty News, show 71% of Americans believe ISIS/ISIL have some type of network in the United States, whether this is a functioning network or simply

This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.   And it is consistent with the approach I outlined earlier this year:  to use force against anyone who threatens America's core interests, but to mobilize partners wherever possible to address broader challenges to international order. 

Presidnet Gathers Global Coalition

The Associated Press is reporting Iraq's President Fouad Massoum has said Arab powers Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia do not need to join the airstrikes against the Islamic state group.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry is leading the United States delegation shoring up commitment from the 26 nations meeting in Paris to determine involvement and commitment in the war against ISIS/ISIL.

No word from Paris as to the level in which each government will commit. Although President Obama has already received pledges from Saudi Arabia to host military training camps and other Middle East or regional countries to assist through a variety of means.

President Obama and President Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, spoke regarding the development of a stronger Syrian opposition. As part of the president's strategy building a stronger Syrian opposition is essential to defeating ISIS/ISIL who are funded and fueled by Bashear al-Assad.

 "The President and the King agreed on the need for increased training and equipping of the moderate Syrian opposition, consistent with the proposal that President Obama has made to the United States Congress.  President Obama welcomed Saudi Arabia's support for this program.  Both leaders agreed that a stronger Syrian opposition is essential to confronting extremists like ISIL as well as the Assad regime, which has lost all legitimacy," as the released statement from the White House read.

Third Hostage Beheaded

David Cawthorne Haines, a British Humanitarian Aid worker, has become the third hostage executed by the terror organization Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

ISIS/ISIL reportedly beheaded the British citizen in response to the military strategy and plan announced by President Obama and the coalition formed with, longtime partner, the United Kingdom who has historically fought many a global evil together.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to "hunt down" those responsible but has also added his full pledge of support to the strategy created by the President Obama to "step by step we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it stands for."

Haines, dressed in a similar orange jumpsuit, as seen in the other publicized murders, was kneeling beside his captor, reportedly a British citizen with sworn allegiance to ISIS/ISIL and has continue to systematically execute those kidnapped.

According to media reports ISIS/ISIL is claiming responsibility for upwards of eight executions, with one incident resulting in more than a dozen soldiers.

Haines was executed in retaliation for Britain's coalition with the President of the United States.  Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff were both executed by the Iraqi terrorist organization in retaliation for the United States' assistance to the Iraqi people placed under siege by the militant group.

The Associated Press has reported a video similar to the one received that recorded the death of James Foley has been received. Sotloff, kneeling in an orange t-shirt with wrists bound behind his back, appeared in that video.

Hanies, like James Foley and Steven Sotloff had also appeared in the recent video released by the terror group showing the heinous murder of James Foley. Haines and Steven Sotloff were identified in the same video.

Haines was kidnapped in early 2013 in Syria as he worked as an unarmed humanitarian worker assessing refugee camp locations. A member of the Royal Air force, Haines began his humanitarian career in 1999.

Haines, like James Foley and Steven Sotloff were forced to read indictments against their governments. The men were brave and courageous to the end.

As in the other videos, a second British citizen Alan Henning was threatened at the end.

A second generation terrorist, Abdel Majed Abdel Bary, the son of an Egyptian terrorist held in the United States was generally believed to be the man committing the crimes. He has not been arrested.

World Remembers 9/11

In a brief ceremony President Obama, First Lady and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel attended a memorial service honoring the memories of those lost on September 11, 2001 when the Pentagon suffered a direct hit.

The World Trade Center complex, including the Twin Towers had been hit almost one hour earlier and as the world watched the horrors unfold, two 747's still unaccounted for were heading to what complete, at that point what would be considered a successful attack, unlike anything since December 7, 1941 when a surprise attack by the Japanese Zero's destroyed the entire pacific fleet.

Then, like now, even with the direct hits, as people saw monuments fall, images which rest but never leave, the words of a lone Japanese general "all we've done is awaken a sleeping giant" resonate through the generations.

Thirteen years later, we mourn, still, our hearts ache, still, for the lives lost, for the abbreviations of brilliance, the first t-ball home run, the prom, the laughter, love.

And we, the sleeping giant, collectively, each one, awakened to renewed life, to dedication to determination of living free, and dying if necessary, like those brave citizens running to join the counter attack on United Flight 93, against insurmountable odds armed with plastic cutlery and a single unified purpose.

They too claimed success on that day; and their success in a farm field in Pennsylvania became a nation's success, a generation's remembrance.

August Job Numbers

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released the employment report for August revealing a continued albeit slow growth with a total of 142,000 jobs added to the economy bringing the total unemployment rate to 6.1%, the lowest it has been in more than five years.

The numbers, clearly less than the Obama administration would have hoped, still prove the economic situation is changing and nearing another milestone as it drops below 5%.

 

 

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

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com, 

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