Free Republic

President Obama wants the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) defeated by the end of his term, Defense Secretary Ash Carter says. "That´s what he said he wants. That´s what he told me and [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford]. He said, ´Get this done as soon as possible. I´d like to not leave this to my successor,´ " Carter said Friday an event hosted by Politico. He added that Obama called for the process to be accelerated last fall — about a year after the U.S. first began its counter-ISIS campaign. The administration now has...

Should the UN route have been abandoned? The United States, Britain and Spain have withdrawn plans for a new UN Security Council resolution, ending diplomatic efforts to win backing for a possible war with Iraq. British ambassador to the UN Sir Jeremy Greenstock blamed France for threatening to use its veto to block the resolution whatever the circumstances. Mr Greenstock said the three allies now reserved the right to take their own steps to secure the disarmament of Iraq. Should the resolution have been abandoned? Has diplomacy now taken a back seat to military action? What is your reaction to...