This is a new low for this president, but at this point I'm no longer surprised at the courage and character this president lacks. From "60 minutes": Steve Kroft: I understand all the caveats about these regional groups. But this is an army of 40,000 people, according to some of the military estimates I heard the other day, very well-trained, very motivated. President Obama: Well, part of it was that... Steve Kroft: What? How did they end up where they are in control of so much territory? Was that a complete surprise to you? President Obama: Well I think, our head of the intelligence community, Jim Clapper, has acknowledged that I think they underestimated what had been taking place in Syria. Steve Kroft: I mean, he didn't say that, just say that, we underestimated ISIL. He said, we overestimated the ability and the will of our allies, the Iraqi army, to fight. President Obama: That's true. That's absolutely true. 0bama was absolutely told the threat ISIS presented, and the inability of the Iraqi military to defend it's borders, and now 0bama absolutely lies. This testimony was given in February 2014 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, by the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Mike Flynn told lawmakers ISIS was looking to gain ground. "Al Qaeda in Iraq/ISIL probably will attempt to take territory in Iraq and Syria to exhibit its strength in 2014, as demonstrated recently in Ramadi and Fallujah, and the group's ability to concurrently maintain multiple safe havens in Syria." These terror groups had exploited the permissive security environment to increase its operations and presence in many locations and also has expanded into Syria and Lebanon to inflame tensions throughout the region." Washington Post article 0bama's own generals told him the Iraqi military was not ready to defend it's borders or airspace: Iraq needs help defending its borders after U.S. troops leave in 2011 Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, has said that Iraq wouldn't be able to defend its borders if U.S. troops pulled out and also questioned Iraqi forces ability to defend its airspace. Obama: Iraq war will be over by year's end; troops coming home "I would say we're five years into a 10-15 year program," said Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, who heads the U.S. mission in charge of training the Iraqi air force. "We're on a glide path, but we're not in the final stages of approach." Iraqi generals also told 0bama that the Iraq military was not going to be ready. Iraq General says forces not ready until 2020 The Iraqi militarys chief of staff, Lieutenant General Babaker Zebari, estimated that it will take several more years before Iraq can provide for its external defense without assistance from international partners, said the report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR).
Indications are mounting that the intelligence community is getting damn well tired of being tossed under the bus by this poser of a president who they DO keep informed on an ongoing basis. My understanding is that also the U.S. military has gotten a belly full of the Left's amateur hour Anointed One as well.
On the news this morning, the truth came out. The intelligence community knew and reported, but Obama only went to 42% of the briefings. No wonder he is ignorant about what is going on.
Face it. Obama ain't interested in what's going on around the world. He's a peacenick from the liberal school. But when it comes to domestic issues you get his attention. He's all in on civil rights, racial discrimination, poverty, illegal immigration, same-sex marriages, abortion, and income redistribution. Only those who didn't vote for him are not surprised. Those who voted for him are now realizing he's very liberal. Some like that and some hate to admit he fooled them. The MSM jumped in his corner right off and now they are stuck at propping him up. Maybe they have learned a lesson that liberal socialism just keeps failing.
Estimates by the intelligence re: the strength and numbers of ISIL still range from 20,000 to 30,000. - - - Updated - - - Good grief... The choice was Obama or Palin McCain.............
Ahh, you Fox extremists have so much fun together, I almost regret pyssing in your pool. If there was a memo that Obama ignored, you can be sure it would be public by now, given the hysteria against your own President of late. No, I simply believe that the US intel in the ME is downright rotten, and have always been. Obama would be right to fire these guys, who probably against him anyway, and hire some French intel instead.
He was busy studying "My Pet Goat". - - - Updated - - - I don't place much trust in your intel community, friend, and neither should you.
As far as I know, Obama wasn't the one being send in the mideast to gather intel. But it's true I don't listen to Fox. Obama sure has some blame... I believe he did pull out of Iraq too soon, but he did so under public pressure. He wasn't the first to claim "mission accomplished" if you remember well. Finally... Why do you guys just don't butt out of the ME? Everything you do there (no matter the administration) turns into schit worse than what was before. Let less schizoid nations take care of it... Stay home, will you, and watch some TV. Eat hamburgers. Buy one more car and extra insurances - I am pretty sure the world will keep on turning.
The essence of a leader is to lead, not buckle under political pressure and do the wrong thing. The military and the intel community kept Obama informed and all are saying the same thing. Too many leaks to ignore.
I don't believe it for a second. Your intel in the ME has always been crap. People see you coming from miles away.
Historically... the intelligence community in country do a fair job, but it gets filtered thru the politics of the guys in the States and then the administration. I used to know more than a few guys who worked for the CIA in country... and they all had other jobs.. They weren't "spooks" like you see in the movies... and the weren't like the "ex-Cia pundits" who are all over the TV or writing thriller novels.
Maybe the problem is Obama missing 1/2 of his briefings. I think the guy should take some interest in what is going on.
Gee-----------------I thot everything was Bush's fault!!! I guess Obama has enough blame to spread it around.
Evidently sometimes either the Golfer-in-Chief gets bored with blaming everything on either Bush or the GOP and decides to blame someone inside his own administration for his own screw-ups just for the hell of it or he likes to keep his hand in when it comes to tossing important people -- who've sacrificed for him and gone to the wall for him -- under the bus. It's a tricky skill set and he doesn't want to get rusty at it.
A true leader will fire the person they blame for not performing up to standards. But poor Obama, he blames someone he hired for not performing, then lets them stay in the job. Yeah, he is smart, wise, and a great leader
