Obama Tells ISIS: ‘Our Objective Is To Degrade And Destroy You’
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama addressed the recent beheading of a second American journalist by the Islamic State (ISIS).He acknowledged that the fight against the Jihadists would be a long and painful one.
In a press conference, and with the world media spotlighting the president, Obama promised that justice would be done to the killers of Steven Sotloff and James Foley both of whom were brutally beheaded live on camera by an Islamic State militant.
The president also spoke about the United States’ objective when in comes to the war on terror against ISIS.
“The bottom line is this, our objective is clear and that is to degrade and destroy (Islamic State) so that it’s no longer a threat not just to Iraq but also the region and to the United States. Whatever these murderers think they will achieve with killing innocent Americans like Steven, they have already failed. They failed because, like people around the world, Americans are repulsed by their barbarism. We will not be intimidated.”
The New York Times reported today that Obama spoke about the fact that removing ISIS from its strongholds in Syria and Iraq would take some time and that patience would be required for the long-term. For once, the president took back some good old American pride as he spoke in no uncertain terms about what he really feels about ISIS and the threat they pose.
“Those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget and that our reach is long and that justice will be served.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron said at a press conference in Britain that the latest video depicted an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act.” He had convened a meeting of security chiefs to discuss how best to tackle the ISIS threat.
The masked executioner in the video spoke with a London accent, as in the James Foley clip, and claimed to be the same man who beheaded Foley.
“I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State. So just as your missiles continue to strike the necks of our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people, he said.”
At the end of the video recording, the ISIS militant threatens another captive, identified as Briton David Cawthorne Haines, saying, “We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”
In condemnation from the U.N., the Secretary General said, strongly condemn all such despicable crimes and I refuse to accept that whole communities can be threatened by atrocities because of who they are or what they believe.”
It remains to be seen what ISIS’ next move will be in their war against the west, and whether or not they will decide to execute the British journalist who they have in captivity.
