The Crisis of ISIS In 55 days, President Obama isnt up for election -- but his policies certainly are. And while Democrats are sweating bullets, most Americans wish our troops were firing them -- at the madmen of the Islamic State. The terrorist network ISIS is swelling like a cancer in the Middle East, while the White House seems oddly detached and directionless. Two weeks after his disastrous we dont have a strategy yet press conference, the President is signaling that foreign policy amateur hour may finally be coming to a close. In a rare primetime address, the administration hopes to lay out a more comprehensive plan for ISIS on the eve of two tragic anniversaries: 9/11 and the Benghazi attack. Heading into tonight, the stakes are high for Obamas party -- but even higher for America, whose seat at the global table is becoming more irrelevant with each unconvincing sound bite. Even liberals, who are about to bear the brunt of the publics frustration in November, are throwing the President under the motorcade. (This) was very poorly handled, said an exasperated Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Like most liberals, he feels the sting of the latest polling, which gives Republicans a whopping 38-point lead on national defense issues. Thats a confidence freefall from the high watermark for the Presidents party -- the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden. Now, three years after the September 11th masterminds fate was SEALed, only 32% of Americans approve of the Presidents handling of foreign policy crises. And his overall approval rating isnt any better. With only 40% support from the country (and a majority calling his presidency a failure), a lot is riding on tonights speech -- not the least of which is Americans fragile sense of security. Yesterday, the President tested his message on a collection of congressional leaders at a lengthy closed-door meeting. As usual, the White Houses go-it-alone approach bristled members, who are tired of being pushed aside on important issues. The President told the leaders that he has the authority he needs to take action against ISIL in accordance with the mission he will lay out in his address tomorrow night. Like us, most leaders know that any gains in the war on terror have been lost under this administration, along with decades of international credibility. Still, a strategic show of force in the Middle East would go a long way to satisfying the peoples concerns. Its an ironic role-reversal -- one that isnt lost on NBC. Its worth pointing out, a trio of reporters write, that Obamas speech tonight is unusual for a President outlining a strategy for military action. Why unusual? Because the country is already there; in some ways, its the public trying to rally the Commander-in-Chief. The President talks about shrinking radical, Christian-killing ISIS to a manageable problem. But, as Andrew McCarthy asks, is he the manager for the job? From Guantanamo Bay to Bowe Bergdahl, this administration has seemed more interested in setting terrorists free than bringing them to justice. And unfortunately, the costs of that philosophy have been as steep as the graves are deep. Tomorrow, four families mourn the completely preventable deaths of Libyas diplomatic and security personnel in one of the most outrageous failures of leadership in American history: the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. Twenty-four months later, their victims loved ones are no closer to understanding the inter-agency collapse that led to the violent deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three patriots than they were that fateful night. And the administration responsible has been too busy covering its tracks to ensure it doesnt happen again. Today, FRCs Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin (Ret.), along with the rest of the Benghazi Accountability Coalition, held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to keep the spotlight on the consequences of those unanswered questions. Our good friend Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), conservative leaders, and family members joined the cry for the truth -- something unfortunately, thats been in all-too short supply under this administration.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 00:15:05 +0000
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