Posted on 08/14/2014 3:13:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
On Thursday, the Pentagon revealed that the Yazidi minorities have been encircled by Islamic State forces on Mt. Sinjar for weeks were in much better shape. Military officials determined that select airstrikes on ISIS positions around the mountain had been successful, and some Yazidis had already evacuated the area.
Defense officials determined that the success of contingency operations against ISIS in western Iraq indicated that no further action would need to be undertaken. In a press conference on Thursday, President Barack Obama confirmed that the mission to save the Yazidis had been a success. He added that, while the U.S. would still execute airstrikes against ISIS forces that threaten American assets or personnel, the rescue phase of the mission in Iraq had been accomplished.
We broke the ISIL siege of Mt. Sinjar, we helped vulnerable people reach safety, and we helped save many innocent lives, Obama said. The majority of the military personnel who conducted the assessment will be leaving Iraq in the coming days.
Obama did note, however, that the crisis on the ground in Iraq is far from being resolved:
Now, the situation remains dire for Iraqis subject to ISILs terror throughout the country, and this includes minorities like Iraqi Christians, he added. It also includes many Sunnis, Shia and Kurds.
CNNs Jim Sciutto had an interesting observation about this statement.
When POTUS listed other Iraqi groups US may protect from #ISIS – Christians, Sunnis, Shias, Kurds – he described #Iraq's entire population
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 14, 2014
Not especially encouraging.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
I’m not all that certain that our country can survive Obama’s 29 more months, and you know that congress won’t do anything not now and not in the remaining 29 months. I do know that others whom I have talked to have expressed the same thoughts. All I can say is GOD help this country.
The mission is not accomplished as long as a single aspirin factory remains standing...
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