Leon Panetta says Obama helped ISIS grow by ignoring national security team's advice

Daily Mail ^ | 22 September 2014 | David Martosko, Us Political Editor for MailOnline

[CorporateStepsister]

Former Obama administration Pentagon chief Leon Panetta said Sunday that the president overruled nearly his entire national security team and decided not to arm moderate Syrian rebel groups early on, a decision that helped the ISIS terror army gain power.

Panetta also said he favored leaving a residual force of U.S. troops behind in Iraq instead of withdrawing them, another opinion Obama ignored.

Panetta, who was Obama's CIA director for two years before leading the Pentagon for two more, told CBS News that entering the Syria conflict earlier, and ensuring that moderate groups gained power instead of the most extreme jihadi elements, could have prevented ISIS from growing and prospering.

'I think that would've helped,' Panetta said. 'And I think, in part, we pay the price for not doing that in what we see happening with ISIS.'

And a less complete troop pullout in Iraq 'would've given us greater leverage over Iraq's government,' he emphasized.

[CorporateStepsister]

Worthy of Impeachment?

[ilgipper]

I happened to catch this one moment of Panetta’s interview. It is an explosive claim, especially coming from one of the more disciplined politicos of the Clinton and Obama years.

Damning statements. Very damning.

[Slyfox]

Obama is answering to a higher power:

[boycott]

Probably lining up with team Clinton so Obama is to blame. Hillary wants no part of the blame and Panetta will help put all of it on Obama.

Bill and Hillary know they will need to run away from Obama’s failed policies to win in 2016.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

What’s a other damn here or there. A whole dam of damns.

[Uncle Miltie]

"favored leaving a residual force of U.S. troops behind in Iraq"

This was the big mistake. If we had stayed in Iraq, ISIS would be limited to Syria where they and Assad would bloody each other interminably.

[556x45]

I expect this is all about Panetta saving Panetta’s hide...throwing Barry under his own bus. Its common knowledge that Barry is the Village Idiot and yet no one has seen fit to restrain him.

[factoryrat]

There's no such thing a “moderate” muslim, and obama is a prime example of that, which explains his actions and behavior. He even said himself if the public opinion were to turn against islam, that he would side with the muslims, and his actions to date prove that out. Islam is incompatible with western culture, an always will be, and no skinny punk from kenya, via chicago is going to change that.

[Qiviut]

Panetta is a Clintonista .... he’ll speak up to further Hillary’s ambitions, but not in defense of his country when it mattered.

[Paine in the Neck]

Panetta’s laying down covering fire for Hillary, preparing the battlespace for 2016.

[Mr. K]

If ISIS(L) was not publicly beheading people Obama would be IN FULL SUPPORT of them forming a new Caliphate.

He would probably give a speech full of platitudes about he “the people freely embraced this new change, and the world must not stand in the way of hope..”

The ONLY thing on his mind right now is “Dammit they are making it hard for me to be on their side if they keep killing people like this”

[gaijin]

why does Leon always get a pass?

he was on duty when the men on that Benghazi roof were abandoned and here he is, fleeing the sinking ship now that Obama’s political fortunes are completely spent.

now he switches into Hilary protection mode.

Is this story good? Yes, but he’s looking out for HIMSELF, here.

[BilLies]

“.. Obama would be IN FULL SUPPORT...
The Bush/Cheney sin, according to the Obama Progressives and Rand Wackos, was the invasion of Iraq ......an action WHICH was a preemptive action to short circuit the TERRORIST CALIPHATE (stretching from Morocco to Indonesia) that the ISIS is now trying to effectuate.

[rod1]

Exactly. Obama is so yesterday for his “career”. Leon is got a ride to his next gig in the Hillarymobile.

[Dr. Thorne]

Try this: Obama helped ISIS by helping ISIS. Their CIA handlers have given them money, intelligence and weaponry in order to create a fearsome, compelling threat in the Middle East.

Once ISIS takes over Syria, Jordan and Lebanon (with our help), whoever the president is at that time (JEB!?) will have to beat his chest and proclaim a coalition of the willing to stamp out... what we ourselves created.

The trump card is Iran. Do they have the bomb? Will they use it? Will Israel retaliate?

Stay tuned, FRiends. World War 3 will be televised.

[RetSignman]

World War 3 will be televised.
++++
I think, we are already seeing WW3, we just can’t see the forest for the trees.

[boomop1]

Panetta is in cya mode, Obama was arming the rebels, remember Benghazi.

[detective]

Panetta is a phony.

He is only trying to protect Hillary Clinton.

While I have no doubt every intelligent and honest person in the Obama Administration argued against Obama’s stupid and probably traitorous actions in the middle east Panetta probably played the slimy cover your ass game.

Only now when it is obvious that everything done while Panetta was in the cabinet was a disaster does Panetta go on TV to say he and Clinton were against it.

Neither of them said anything when it could have made difference.

[RetSignman]

Obama helped ISIS grow by ignoring national security team’s
+++
The national security teams AND Panetta stayed on at their jobs and ignored the safety of the American people. PERIOD.

(If you see something, say something)

[Parmy]

I expect this is all about Panetta saving Panetta’s hide...throwing Barry under his own bus. Its common knowledge that Barry is the Village Idiot and yet no one has seen fit to restrain him.

Panetta is a democratic hack. He and Geo. Mitchell lied to HW Bush. He is about as honorable as a slinking coyote.