Washington Post: Obama toughens tone in defense of his strategy to defeat the Islamic State
President Obama launched a robust defense of his strategy to defeat the Islamic State with a detailed account on Monday of territory taken from the enemy, bombs dropped and leaders killed.
“We are hitting ISIL harder than ever,” Obama said, using an acronym for the group. So far, he said, the United States has dropped nearly 9,000 bombs and last month struck more targets since the United States began attacking the Islamic State last year.
MIDDLE EAST
Obama warns Islamic State leaders 'you are next'.
Obama vows to hit IS harder, says commandos now in Syria.
45 civilians killed in bombing of Syrian rebel strongholds, reports say.
New airstrikes hit Damascus suburb day after 45 were killed.
Turkey pulls some troops out of Iraqi camp. IS conflict: Turkey withdraws some troops from Iraq camp.
Clashes in southeast Turkey kill seven, new curfews declared.
Two top Gulf commanders killed in Yemen rocket strike: sources. Senior Saudi and Emirati officers killed in Yemen. Yemen conflict: Gulf commanders 'killed in missile strike'.
Yemen faces "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis.
Israel 'openly' helping Syrian rebels trying to overthrow Assad.
IDF strikes two Hamas military targets in response to Gaza rocket fire.
Two-thirds of Palestinians support knife attacks: poll.
In Iran, sharing photos on mobile apps can mean jail.
Saudi Arabia elects up to 17 female councillors in historic election.
ASIA
China's efforts on climate deal partly down to its pollution.
Sunni militants claim deadly attack at market in Pakistan.
Doctors Without Borders raises death toll in Kunduz strike to 42.
North, South Korea talks end without agreement.
China still wants North Korea exchanges after cancelled concert.
725,000 people evacuated as typhoon slams into Philippines.
Mystery of Japan sea's ghost ships points to North Korea.
Laos shows 'no political will' to solve activist's disappearance, U.N. rights official says.
Fosun founder Guo Guangchang appears in public.
China puts prominent human rights lawyer on trial.
AFRICA
Feuds and factions: no easy road to implementing Libya peace deal.
Gunmen kill UN employee in Somali capital Mogadishu.
Burundi army patrols capital after worst violence of crisis.
Burundi: U.S. urges citizens to leave after violence.
CAR crisis: Gunfire in Bangui during constitution poll.
Military, Shiite Muslims clash in northern Nigeria.
Forces armed with guns and arrows kill girl bombers in Cameroon: sources.
Egypt says no evidence Russia’s A321 plane was brought down by terrorist attack. Egypt: Sinai crash probe finds 'no proof of terrorism'.
Senegal, a peaceful Islamic democracy, is jarred by fears of militancy.
Gambia is now an Islamic republic, says president.
South Africa's Pravin Gordhan named third finance minister in week.
EUROPE
France's National Front thwarted in regional elections. No real winner in French elections, Presidential race ahead.
Merkel says Germany will reduce the influx of migrants coming in. Merkel stands by refugee policy at CDU conference.
Migrant crisis: EU to launch new border force plan.
Spain’s ruling party could lose absolute majority in elections, polls show.
Russia criticizes U.S. policy on Syria ahead of Kerry Moscow visit.
Teacher stabbed in Paris by attacker citing Islamic State. French teacher made up story of ISIS attack, official says.
Seventy Paris airport workers have security passes revoked over extremism fears.
Sweden issues life sentences for role in Syrian decapitations.
New mass grave discovered in Srebrenica.
Security fears blight European tourism, oil and economy offer relief.
AMERICAS
White House says Kerry will press Russia on Turkey de-escalation.
Miserly Mexican minimum wage sparks calls for change.
Brazilians take to streets to demand Rousseff's impeachment.
At least 41 police officers killed in bus crash in northern Argentina. Argentine police bus crashes, 42 dead; nine injured.
Venezuelan president addresses military after election loss.
This week: US Congress seeks to wrap up year with legislative dash.
Hillary Clinton misled Congress on Bowe Bergdahl swap.
Obama says may visit Cuba in 2016 if citizens enjoy more freedoms.
Obama gives government employees an early Christmas gift.
Homeless squatters are taking over LaGuardia Airport.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Witness: Paris ringleader directed Bataclan theater attackers by phone.
Islamic State gains strength in Yemen, challenging Al Qaeda.
Islamic State 'moving to access Libya oil' - France.
San Bernardino attacks: killers social media 'not checked'.
UK detainee released from Guantanamo says there's no place for extremism in Britain.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Paris climate pact sinks coal stocks, lifts renewable energy.
Kerry: Climate deal will transform economy.
Twitter warns of government 'hacking'.
Yuan love: China prepares to challenge dollar's dominance.
Oil price plunges below $35 US as Iran gets ready to pump more crude.
2 comments:
ISIS may be getting hurt worse than ever, but Obama's efforts may be a confounding variable and not the causative variable.
If the Shia militias are gearing up and Russia stepped up, one has to bring up the results of specific strikes, while at the same time deprecating those of Russia.
Merely giving the gross number of sorties like Obama is doing is just another version of the body count game. But Obama loves to jack his jaws.
I think the Russian bombing scares ISIS more. They realize in that case human shields are useless. They are more likely to operate as if they are in a non-permissable environment. They are more likely to have defections form Russian bombing than American bombing. Case in point it seems that the Russians bombed ISIS oil facilities 1st and hardest while Obama wrung his hands over the environmental damage.
4 more days of Kabuki theater. The polls have already moved .5 points in Obama's favor. Or is it just noise. It doesn't matter. One more terrorists attack all his gains will be wiped out and then some.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confounding
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