Obama Defends Progress Against Extremists [Says ISIS Momentum Halted]

New York Times ^ | 12/16/2014 | Peter Baker

[SeekAndFind]

President Obama on Monday said that after several months of fighting, the United States and its partners had undercut the momentum of Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria, making clear to them that Americans will not back down and in the end, “we will get you.”

Mr. Obama flew to a New Jersey military base to thank troops for their service heading into the holiday season and to defend his handling of national security at a time of multiple challenges. While critics have said the campaign against the Islamic State has not succeeded, the president argued that it had made a difference.

“Because of you, we have blunted their momentum and we have put them on the defensive,” Mr. Obama told 3,000 troops in camouflage uniforms and civilian defense personnel gathered in a hangar here. “And these terrorists are learning the same thing that the leaders of Al Qaeda have learned the hard way. They may think that they can chalk up some quick victories, but our reach is long. We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you.”

With a C-130 Hercules parked to his left, Mr. Obama said American airstrikes coupled with local forces on the ground had inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL. The American-led coalition, he said, has taken out Islamic State commanders, fighters, checkpoints, buildings, barracks, hundreds of vehicles and tanks and nearly 200 oil and gas facilities that were financing its efforts, while also damaging its command and control structure and fracturing its supply lines. “America led the way,” he said. “That’s what we do.”

[Darksheare]

He’s obviously been hitting the crack pipe.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tell it to the Pakies...

[PLD]

AND YET THESE TERRORIST ARE WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE..

[Zeppo]

President Obama on Monday said that after several months of fighting, the United States and its partners had undercut the momentum of Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria

Obama sure seems to be encouraging the momentum of Islamic extremists in Iran and Turkey.

We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you.

There he goes again - Obama's mouth writing a check that his ass can't cash. The ISIS problem arose largely due to Obama's own weak "leadership" and poor decisionmaking, precipitously pulling US troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan against the strong advice from smarter people than himself that Obama's ill-considered actions were going to lead to disaster.

[KeyLargo]

Yep, those terrorists are sure scared.

[Noumenon]

Hang. Them. All.