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On Islamic State, now it’s Congress’s move On Islamic State, now it’s Congress’s move
(1 day later)
President Obama’s success in leading an international coalition against the Islamic State depends initially on getting bipartisan support here at home.President Obama’s success in leading an international coalition against the Islamic State depends initially on getting bipartisan support here at home.
So far, a chorus of political and media critics has picked apart whatever he’s said or tried to do.So far, a chorus of political and media critics has picked apart whatever he’s said or tried to do.
However, as I wrote last week, while the complainers were misinterpreting Obama’s Aug. 28 statement — “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, we don’t have a strategy yet” — his administration was pulling together an international coalition of NATO and Middle Eastern countries — including those with Sunni leaders. As I wrote last week, however, while the complainers were misinterpreting Obama’s Aug. 28 statement — “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, we don’t have a strategy yet” — his administration was pulling together an international coalition of NATO and Middle Eastern countries — including those with Sunni leaders.
The result will be a strategy that Obama believes will meet the threat from Islamic State jihadists. He will lay it out to congressional leaders Tuesday and to the public Wednesday.The result will be a strategy that Obama believes will meet the threat from Islamic State jihadists. He will lay it out to congressional leaders Tuesday and to the public Wednesday.
A four-step outline of the Obama plan was described Thursday by deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken during an interview on MSNBC:A four-step outline of the Obama plan was described Thursday by deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken during an interview on MSNBC:
●Deal with the Islamic State’s war-fighting capacity to blunt further gains by its up-to-now highly mobile forces that took over swaths of Iraq. This is underway with, as of Monday, more than 148 airstrikes in Iraq by U.S. and Iraqi aircraft hitting Islamic State units where their vehicles and personnel are massed and civilians casualties can be avoided. ●Deal with the Islamic State’s war-fighting capacity to blunt further gains by its up-to-now highly mobile forces that took over swaths of Iraq. This is underway with, as of Monday, more than 148 airstrikes in Iraq by U.S. and Iraqi aircraft hitting Islamic State units where their vehicles and personnel are massed and civilian casualties can be avoided.
All signs indicate that such attacks eventually will be carried out in Syria and particularly around Raqqah, in the northeast of the country where the Islamic State has a headquarters.All signs indicate that such attacks eventually will be carried out in Syria and particularly around Raqqah, in the northeast of the country where the Islamic State has a headquarters.
But first, intelligence has to be clearer.But first, intelligence has to be clearer.
●Begin to cut off the Islamic State’s support network. That means not only the funds that finance fighters and their operations, but also counter its fairly sophisticated propaganda activities and recruitment, including foreign fighters. ●Begin to cut off the Islamic State’s support network. That means not only the funds that finance fighters and their operations, but also its fairly sophisticated propaganda activities and recruitment, including foreign fighters.
The Islamic State’s income is said to be more than $100 million — and there is doubt about claims that its fighters took $400 million from banks in Mosul. Another income source could be sales from the oil fields it controls, but this too may be exaggerated. While the Islamic State gets some donations from the Gulf and North Africa, much of its money comes from extortion, kidnapping and robberies. The Islamic State’s income is said to be more than $100 million — and there is doubt about claims that its fighters took $400 million from banks in Mosul. Another income source could be sales from the oil fields it controls, but this, too, may be exaggerated. While the Islamic State gets some donations from the Persian Gulf and North Africa, much of its money comes from extortion, kidnapping and robberies.
Remember, running the two-front Syria/Iraq war while hiring hundreds if not thousands of new recruits and administering territory under Islamic State control is costly — which is why the plan includes the United States and its allies seeking to cut off funds. Remember, running a two-front war in Syria and Iraq while hiring hundreds if not thousands of new recruits and administering territory under Islamic State control is costly — which is why the plan includes the United States and its allies seeking to cut off funds.
Counter propaganda continues to be a problem, and as the president put it Sunday on “Meet the Press,” “We need a much more effective counter-narrative. And it can’t come from us.” Countering propaganda continues to be a problem. As Obama said on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, “we need a much more effective counternarrative. And it can’t come from us.”
●Turn Sunni tribal support or acceptance of the Islamic State into opposition. It has begun among the alienated Sunnis in Iraq.●Turn Sunni tribal support or acceptance of the Islamic State into opposition. It has begun among the alienated Sunnis in Iraq.
Obama described it this way: “Perhaps the first time, we have absolute clarity that the problem for Sunni states in the region, many of whom are our allies, is not simply Iran. It’s not simply a Sunni-Shia issue. Sunni extremism, as represented by IS, is the biggest danger that they face right now.”Obama described it this way: “Perhaps the first time, we have absolute clarity that the problem for Sunni states in the region, many of whom are our allies, is not simply Iran. It’s not simply a Sunni-Shia issue. Sunni extremism, as represented by IS, is the biggest danger that they face right now.”
●Enable local forces to retake and hold the territories seized by the Islamic State.●Enable local forces to retake and hold the territories seized by the Islamic State.
This will not be done by U.S. forces, Obama said.This will not be done by U.S. forces, Obama said.
“The boots on the ground have to be Iraqi . . . and in Syria, the boots on the ground have to be Syrian,” he said.“The boots on the ground have to be Iraqi . . . and in Syria, the boots on the ground have to be Syrian,” he said.
“Some of it is reaching out to the Sunni tribes in Iraq and identifying who we can work with, so that they can fight their own battles to free villages and regions that, you know, where they live. So they’ve got a big role to play,” Obama said.“Some of it is reaching out to the Sunni tribes in Iraq and identifying who we can work with, so that they can fight their own battles to free villages and regions that, you know, where they live. So they’ve got a big role to play,” Obama said.
It has started in some Kurdish areas in Iraq, but it will not move forward until there is a new, inclusive government in Baghdad with Sunnis, Kurds and Shia. It has started in some Kurdish areas in Iraq, but it will not move forward until there is a new, inclusive government in Baghdad with Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites.
Syria will take longer. That’s because, as Obama said on “Meet the Press,” “We’ve got to have a moderate Sunni opposition.” But, he added, “Right now in Syria, you’ve got a choice, in the minds of a lot of people, between radical Sunni extremists or [Syrian President Bashir al-] Assad,” whom the United States opposes. Syria will take longer. That’s because, as Obama said on “Meet the Press,” “we’ve got to have a moderate Sunni opposition.” But he added: “Right now in Syria, you’ve got a choice, in the minds of a lot of people, between radical Sunni extremists or [Syrian President Bashir al-] Assad,” whom the United States opposes.
This Obama plan — degrade the terrorists’ capabilities, shrink the territory they control and ultimately contain them if not totally defeat them — has been built out of experience. First it was al-Qaeda in Pakistan over the past 13 years with Pakistanis being the boots on the ground. In Somalia over seven years, African Union troops have been the boots on the ground in the fight against al- Shabab Islamists. This Obama plan — degrade the terrorists’ capabilities, shrink the territory they control and ultimately contain them if not totally defeat them — has been built out of experience. First it was al-Qaeda in Pakistan over the past 13 years with Pakistanis being the boots on the ground. In Somalia over seven years, African Union troops have been the boots on the ground in the fight against al-Shabab Islamists.
Now the question is whether a bipartisan group in Congress — and eventually the country — will get behind Obama’s plan.Now the question is whether a bipartisan group in Congress — and eventually the country — will get behind Obama’s plan.
One immediate issue will be whether a congressional resolution is needed. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) on Monday introduced legislation authorizing military force against international terrorism. The president on Sunday implied — as he did roughly a year ago when he threatened to bomb Syria’s chemical weapons facilities — that he has the authority to act without congressional approval.One immediate issue will be whether a congressional resolution is needed. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) on Monday introduced legislation authorizing military force against international terrorism. The president on Sunday implied — as he did roughly a year ago when he threatened to bomb Syria’s chemical weapons facilities — that he has the authority to act without congressional approval.
He changed his mind then, went to Congress and failed to get its support. I doubt he will do that again. But I also think this time around a majority in Congress will indicate support for his plan, though it will have critics who want to do more or less.He changed his mind then, went to Congress and failed to get its support. I doubt he will do that again. But I also think this time around a majority in Congress will indicate support for his plan, though it will have critics who want to do more or less.
For previous Fine Print columns, go to washingtonpost.com/fedpage.For previous Fine Print columns, go to washingtonpost.com/fedpage.