President Barack Obama takes questions in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 28, 2014, before convening a meeting with his national security team on the militant threat in Syria and Iraq. Charles Dharapak/AP
What Obama Needs To Tell the American People About the Islamic State
While limited air strikes in Iraq have slowed the progress of the Islamic State, it’s clear that more must be done. By Rep. Martha Roby
President Barack Obama is set to announce his plans this week for dealing with the growing threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. I am glad the president has chosen to directly address the American people about this important issue.
It was all too telling when Obama admitted at a recent press conference that "we don't have a strategy yet" for dealing with ISIL. The White House did its best to spin the comment, but it was unfortunately a statement of fact. We don’t have a strategy for defeating ISIL, and we need one.
I hope that changes this week, and I am eager to hear the president’s remarks. Here’s what I’ll be listening for:
1. Answering the Syria question. It has been well over a year since the conflict in Syria boiled over. We know that much of the ISIL organizational command is headquartered in Syria. Although Russia’s relationship with the Syrian regime certainly complicates the situation at the UN, the United States must retain our ability to take on and defeat threats to our security wherever they exist. I hope Obama can demonstrate our commitment to destroy ISIL command and control elements in Syria, and prevent Syria from becoming a launching point for further destabilization of the region and/or attacks against the United States.
2. Acknowledging the viral Islamist threat. We cannot afford to downplay or dismiss the recent growth of radical Islamic terrorism. ISIL is a next-generation terrorist organization that is well-funded, well-organized and has demonstrated military-style capabilities and discipline. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is the fluid, mobile, and viral nature of its stop-at-nothing, radical Islamic ideology. We now know ISIL has recruited militants from Western nations and expressed aims to penetrate our homeland. With the anniversary of Sept. 11 approaching, I hope Obama will reassure Americans that action is being taken to secure our borders and enhance the security of U.S. interests at home and around the world.
3. Projecting strength. The most disappointing aspect of President Obama’s “we don’t have a strategy” comment was how it reinforced a pattern of inconsistent and incoherent foreign policy messages. We draw “red lines” and do nothing when they are crossed. We outsource tough foreign policy decisions to the woefully weak United Nations. We hollow out our military force with drastic cuts that compromise our readiness. We fail to secure our borders or enforce immigration laws. We negotiate with the Taliban and strike deals to release hardened terrorists. These actions project weakness and invite our enemies to test our resolve. The United States must reverse course and demonstrate the kind of strength and resolve that will be respected the world over.
What I hope President Obama will avoid articulating are specific limitations or conditions on military actions. I understand how it might be politically tempting to put strict limits on our strike options. After all, nobody wants another war. However, such messages ultimately undermine our military and telegraph our strategy to the enemy. We can simply look to the results of the hastily orchestrated Iraq withdrawal for a lesson in what happens when the enemy has our playbook and knows our timetable.
We also know from past experience that appeasing groups who seek a cultural, religious or ethnic “cleansing” only emboldens them. ISIL is killing anyone who does not conform to its bastardized, barbaric form of Islam, and they will not stop unless they are ended. It is naïve to believe otherwise.
We cannot wait for ISIL to gain even more ground before we act to combat this threat. While limited air strikes in Iraq have slowed progress, it is clear that more must be done. I look to our battle-tested military leaders to craft a strategically-wise course of action, but it is President Obama who must take command.
Rep. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, home to Fort Rucker and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. Formerly a member of the House Armed Services Committee, she now serves on the House Appropriations Committee.