Hillary Clinton calls for U.S. to ‘intensify and broaden’ efforts to fight ISIS
Updated 11:52 AM ET, Thu November 19, 2015 | Video Source: CNN
(CNN) Hillary Clinton is calling for more allied planes, more airstrikes and a “broader target set” — though no large-scale mobilization of U.S. ground troops — to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility, Clinton said that “every society faces a choice between fear and resolve” — an indirect shot at her Republican foes in the 2016 presidential race, who have called for the United States to shut out Syrian refugees.
“This is no time to be scoring political points. We must use every pillar of American power, including our values, to fight terror,” Clinton said.
She said airstrikes by an international anti-ISIS coalition “will have to be combined with ground forces actually taking back more territory from ISIS,” the former secretary of state said Thursday in a speech in New York City.
Clinton called for more “flexibility” for U.S. Special Operations forces and trainers to work with regional forces — particularly Sunnis and Kurds — in opposing ISIS. She said she is open to sending more than the 50 of those forces that President Barack Obama has already mobilized. But Clinton said she opposes a new U.S. ground war in the Middle East.
“That is just not the smart move here,” Clinton said.
But she did not detail her plans if regional powers fail to supply more troops and arms for the fight.
Instead, Clinton sought to ramp up pressure on Iraq’s Shia-led government and on Turkey to set aside old grievances, saying that “the threat from ISIS cannot wait.” She said Qatar and Saudi Arabia “need to stop their citizens from directly funding extremist organizations.” And she acknowledged that the U.S. desire to see the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who she said has slaughtered more Syrians than terrorists have, isn’t a top priority.
“We need people to turn against the common enemy of ISIS,” Clinton said.
In a shot at Republicans who have criticized her for not using the phrase, Clinton said that denouncing “radical Islamic terrorism” amounts to giving “these criminals, these murderers, more standing than they deserve.”
Clinton, in a major break from her GOP presidential rivals, called for the United States to continue accepting Syrian refugees despite reports that at least one of the Paris attackers entered Europe under that guise.
“Turning away orphans, applying a religious test, discriminating against Muslims, slamming the door on every Syrian refugee — that is just not who we are,” Clinton said.
She added: “It would be a cruel irony indeed if ISIS can force families from their homes and then also prevent them from ever finding new ones.”
Clinton delivered the speech, which was being worked on and re-written up until it was delivered this morning, at the Council on Foreign Relations’ Pratt House, an ornate mansion on New York’s Upper Eastside.
Categories: America, Americas, Uncategorized
But it is who they are wanting to destroy the ‘great satan’. Has the road to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries blocked so that she cannot take her message there?