President Obama declares war on ISIS, Syrian extremists: ‘wherever they exist’

President Obama on Wednesday outlined his plan to authorize broader US  involvement in Iraq and Syria, targeting them with more airstrikes “wherever they exist.” Obama said that the US will “conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists.”

“I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,”Obama stated. “That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”

Islamic State flag

This new strategy in Syria will include increased support for “opposition forces” while asking Congress to give the US government “additional authorities and resources to train and equip these fighters.”

“In the fight against ISIL, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorizes its people; a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost. Instead, we must strengthen the opposition as the best counterweight to extremists like ISIL, while pursuing the political solution necessary to solve Syria’s crisis once and for all, “ Obama said.

Critics may be quick to point out that the name calling of the Assad regime will deepen tensions in the area, especially since they asked the U.S. not to intervene unilaterally.  Additionally, there is great concern over the “rebels” and their allegiances since many have pointed out ISIS supporters gained aide during America’s previous efforts thwart the Assad government.

Obama’s strategy in Iraq will be to support the Iraqi government ‘s fight against the Islamic State (IS), as Iraqis will be the ones to ultimately defeat the group in their country, he said. “Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense,” he said.

Obama did announce he is sending another “475 service members to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment.”

“These service members will join the several hundred American service members sent to Iraq in June to assess how best to support Iraqi Security,” he added. The plan, however, still does not involve “American combat troops fighting on foreign soil,” the president said.

This military campaign will be waged “through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.”