Is The U.S. At War With ISIS? Depends On Which Obama Administration Official You Ask


Is the United States at war with ISIS?

That was the question asked by two anchors on two separate network morning shows Sunday (September 14) of two different Obama administration officials. And the answers were two different answers, believe it or not.

First, let’s start with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, who went on ABC News program This Week.

He was asked by anchor Martha Raddatz whether the United States was, in fact, at war with the group also known as the Islamic State since there appeared to be some confusion on the term “war.” His answer appeared to be a definitive yes, the U.S. is at war with ISIS.

“This isn’t talking points… Just as we have been at war with al Qaeda since the day we got here, we are at war with ISIL. What does that mean? That means that we are going to use our unique capabilities in support of others on the ground. Other Sunnis. In Iraq we’re going to be supporting Iraqi security forces. And in Syria we’re going to be supporting with air power the Syrian opposition on the ground.”

Now let us shift to CBS News program Face the Nation, where host Bob Schieffer posed a similar question to Secretary of State John Kerry and got a more roundabout answer that included both a yes and a no.

“I think there’s a kind of tortured debate going on about terminology…. If people need to find the place to land? In terms of what we did in Iraq, originally, this is not a war, this is not combat troops on the ground, it’s not hundreds of thousands of people. It’s not that kind of mobilization. But, in terms of al Qaeda, which we have used the word ‘war’ with, yeah. We were at war with al Qaeda and its affiliates. And in the same context, if you want to use it, yes, we’re at war with ISIL, in that sense.

“But I think it’s a waste of time to focus on that… Let’s consider what we have to do to degrade and defeat ISIL, and that’s what I’m frankly much more focused on.”

Got that? We are at war, but not really. And it is a waste of time to ask the question.

Whatever the answer, The Inquisitr reported earlier today that some Middle Eastern countries have joined the fight, war, or whatever the administration is calling this thing.

What are your thoughts on two officials giving contradictory statements about whether America is at war? Tell us in the comments section below.

[Image via Flickr Creative Commons]

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