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08-15-2016, 12:23 PM
HILLARY CLINTON AND PRESIDENT OBAMA LED TO THE RISE OF ISIS
The Failed Clinton-Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine Has Led To The Rise Of ISIS And It’s Expansion Through The Middle East
The Failed Clinton-Obama Foreign Policy Set The Stage For ISIS:
Prior To Clinton's Tenure As Secretary Of State, There Was No ISIS And Its Precursor "Continued To Struggle To Maintain Relevance." "Through 2011, Coalition forces continued to coordinate efforts with tribal security forces, killing the majority of AQI's leadership and leaving it in general disarray. [60] Both Masri and Baghdadi were killed in a joint U.S.-Iraqi raid on April 18, 2010. After the April raid, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (not to be confused with the deceased, Abu Umar al-Baghdadi) assumed control of an AQI severely weakened by local backlash and coalition and local security forces. [61] AQI continued to struggle to maintain relevance through 2011, when Coalition forces withdrew." ("The Islamic State," Stanford University's Mapping Militant Organizations, 4/4/16)
Interventions In Libya, Turmoil In Syria, And U.S. Troop Withdrawals From Iraq Created Power Vacuums ISIS Was Able To Exploit. “The story of ISIS teaches the same basic lesson that emerged from America’s other failures in the Middle East over the last decade: Attempts by the United States or Islamist rebels to topple authoritarian regimes—in Iraq, Libya, and now Syria—create power vacuums. This empty political space will be filled by extremists unless the United States and its allies build strong local forces that can suppress terrorist groups and warlords both. When the U.S. creates such local forces, it must be persistent. If it withdraws from these efforts, as America did in Iraq in 2011, it invites mayhem. Halfway American intervention has produced nothing but trouble. Rebels have gotten enough support to continue fighting, but not enough to win.” (David Ignatius, “How ISIS Spread In The Middle East,” The Atlantic, 10/29/15)
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Blamed The Obama Administration For Making Poor Decisions That Fueled The Rise Of ISIS. “Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes the Obama White House during his tenure was wrong on some key decisions in the Middle East that are now fueling the fire that ISIS has set in the region. In a sit-down interview with NBC News' Andrea Mitchell following the release of his new book, ‘Worthy Fights,’ Panetta notes that he disagreed with the moves to completely pull American troops out of Iraq, to not quickly arm the moderate rebels fighting Syria’s Bashar Assad and not acting decisively when Assad crossed the ‘red line’ of using chemical weapons on his people.” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
Panetta Believes Had Obama Not Broken With The Bush Strategy, Iraq May Have Turned Out Differently. “After being director for the CIA for two and a half years, Panetta took over as secretary of defense in July 2011, about six months before the U.S. withdrew all troops from Iraq following a breakdown of negotiations between Obama and then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Original plans from the Bush administration had called for a “transnational force” of tens of thousands of troops to remain in the country after major fighting had ended. ‘I don't think there's any question that, had we left 8,000, 10,000 troops there, plus our intelligence operations, plus a strong diplomatic presence, that that would've had an impact,’ said Panetta.” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
Panetta Says That Obama Leaving Iraq And His Inaction On Syria Helped Create ISIS. “He says that and a lack of concern for the civil war in Syria — and the president not acting decisively when it was proven that Assad used chemical weapons — helped created fertile ground for ISIS to grow strong. ‘I think when we stepped out of Iraq, in many ways, we created this vacuum in which not a lot of attention was paid to what was happening in Iraq or what was happening in Syria with the extremists who were developing a base of operations there,’ said Panetta. ‘That combination, plus obviously not getting all of the intelligence that we should've had on it, I think is what produced the ISIS that we're confronting today.’” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
“Amid This Vacuum, Fanatical Islamists Have Flourish In Both Iraq And Syria Under The Banner Of Al Qaeda, As The Two Countries’ Conflicts Amplify Each Other And Foster Ever-Deeper Radicalism.” “Amid this vacuum, fanatical Islamists have flourished in both Iraq and Syria under the banner of Al Qaeda, as the two countries’ conflicts amplify each other and foster ever-deeper radicalism. Behind much of it is the bitter rivalry of two great oil powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose rulers — claiming to represent Shiite and Sunni Islam, respectively — cynically deploy a sectarian agenda that makes almost any sort of accommodation a heresy.” (Ben Hubbard, Robert F. Worth, Michael R. Gordon, “Power Vacuum In Middle East Lifts Militants,” The New York Times, 1/4/14)
“Moving To The Regional Level, The Power Vacuum Is Even More Obvious.” “Moving to the regional level, the power vacuum is even more obvious. There is arguably not a single great power remaining in the region. The states traditionally at the core of Arab power politics — Egypt, Syria, and Iraq — are all flat on their backs, torn by political failure and societal division and unable to play any kind of meaningful role.” (Marc Lynch, “The Middle East Power Vacuum,” Foreign Policy, 10/25/13)
Bernie Sanders Blamed Hillary Clinton And Her Policies For The Vacuum In The Middle East. “But isn't that what the Clinton tried to do just a few years ago?, Sanders asked, adding if it were up to him, removing Assad would take a clear back seat to efforts against the Islamic State. His argument is that regime change is the quintessential example of America's act-first, think-later approach to problem-solving abroad that got America drawn into the Middle East in the first place. ‘Yes, we could get rid of Saddam Hussein, but that destabilized the entire region,’ he said. ‘Yes, we could get rid of Gaddafi, a terrible dictator, but that created a vacuum for ISIS. Yes, we could get rid of Assad tomorrow, but that would create another political vacuum that would benefit ISIS.’” (Amber Phillips, “Hillary Clinton: Regime-Changer?” The Washington Post, 12/20/15)
In The Fall Of 2011, Clinton Defended The Administration’s Decision Not To Leave A Residual Force In Iraq Despite Calls To Keep Troops In Country:
When Asked If The Failure To Have A Residual Force Contributed To Iraq’s Deteriorating Security, Secretary Clinton Blamed The Bush Administration. GREGORY: “But, Secretary Clinton, the question is whether you think this criticism is well-founded or not. Do we not endanger recent success in Iraq by not having any residual force? Is there not a legitimate prospect of civil war, which many people fear?” CLINTON: “Well, honestly, I think that they should have raised those issues when President Bush agreed to the agreement to withdraw troops by the end of this year. I feel like this is a debate that is looking backwards instead of forwards. Now, are the Iraqis all going to get along with each other for the foreseeable future? Well, let’s find out. We know that there will be continuing stresses and threats, as we see in many of the countries that we work. We had a support-and-training mission in Colombia over many years when they were facing tremendous threats from insurgent groups. We know that the violence is not going to automatically end. But President Obama has shown great leadership in navigating to this point, fulfilling his promise, meeting the obligations that were entered into before he ever came into office. We are providing a support-and-training mission. We will be there on the ground, working with the Iraqis. And I just want to add, David, that no one should miscalculate America’s resolve and commitment to helping support the Iraqi democracy. We have paid too high a price to give the Iraqis this chance, and I hope that Iran and no one else miscalculates that.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 10/23/11)
Clinton: “The Death Of Osama Bin Laden Has Put Al-Qaida On The Path To Defeat.” HILLARY CLINTON: “Against this backdrop, the death of Osama bin Laden has put al-Qaida on the path to defeat. And as President Obama has pledged, we will not relent until that job is done.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks On Counterterrorism At John Jay School Of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, 6/23/11)
Multiple U.S. Military Commanders In Iraq Advocated For Keeping Troops In Iraq To Prevent Another Round Of Conflict. “Gen. Odierno recently told Fox News: ‘If we had stayed a little more engaged, I think maybe it might have been prevented. I’ve always believed the United States played the role of honest broker between all the groups, and when we pulled ourselves out, we lost that role.’ He had recommended keeping 35,000 troops in place in 2011. ‘I think it would have been good for us to stay,’ he said. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, a commander in Iraq’s Anbar province, in his July 9 confirmation hearing to be the next Joint Chiefs chairman, differed with those who said the U.S. had no choice but to leave because Iraq’s prime minister was not meeting U.S. demands. ‘I’m not sure I’d say that that meant we had no option to stay,’ he told the Senate Committee on Armed Services.” (Rowan Scarborough, “U.S. Troop Withdrawal Let Islamic State Enter Iraq, Military Leaders Say,” The Washington Times, 7/26/16)
His Decision To Prematurely Withdraw U.S. Forces From Iraq Created A Vacuum Into Which ISIS Grew, And Thrived. “In seeking reelection, President Obama claimed to have ended the war in Iraq and promised to end the war in Afghanistan by 2014. His decision to prematurely withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq created a vacuum into which ISIS grew, and thrived. Reducing the American military presence in Afghanistan has allowed the Taliban to expand its control on the war-torn country.” (Editorial, “A Welcome Reversal: Obama Slows Afghanistan Drawdown,” Union Leader, 7/7/16)
“As The United States Prepares To Withdraw Its Troops From Iraq By Year’s End, Senior American And Iraqi Officials Are Expressing Concern That Al Qaeda’s Offshoot Here … Is Poised For A Deadly Resurgence.” “As the United States prepares to withdraw its troops from Iraq by year’s end, senior American and Iraqi officials are expressing growing concern that Al Qaeda’s offshoot here, which just a few years ago waged a debilitating insurgency that plunged the country into a civil war, is poised for a deadly resurgence.” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
Al Qaeda In Iraq Shifted “Its Tactics And Strategies … To Exploit Gaps Left By The Departing American Troops And To Try To Reignite Sectarian Violence In The Country.” “Although the organization is certainly weaker than it was at its peak five years ago and is unlikely to regain its prior strength, American and Iraqi analysts said the Qaeda franchise is shifting its tactics and strategies – like attacking Iraqi security forces in small squads – to exploit gaps left by the departing American troops and to try to reignite sectarian violence in the country.” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
Major General Jeffrey Buchanan: “I Cringe Whenever Anybody Makes A Pronouncement That Al Qaeda Is On Its Last Legs.” “‘I cringe whenever anybody makes a pronouncement that Al Qaeda is on its last legs,’ said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, the American military’s top spokesman in Iraq. ‘I think one day we are going to look around and say it’s been a long time since we have heard from Al Qaeda, and maybe then we can say it is on its last legs.’” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
The Washington Post Editorial:The Complete Withdrawal Decision “Increases The Risk That Painfully Won Security Gains In Iraq Will Come Undone; That Iran Will Be Handed A Crucial Strategic Advantage” And That The U.S.-Iraqi Alliance “Will Wither.” “It could be, as White House officials argued, that the government of Nouri al-Maliki and its armed forces can manage all these threats without help or training from American soldiers, who have already played a secondary role since the end of combat operations last year. But Mr. Obama’s decision to carry out a complete withdrawal sharply increases the risk that painfully won security gains in Iraq will come undone; that Iran will be handed a crucial strategic advantage in its regional cold war with the United States; and that a potentially invaluable U.S. alliance with an emerging Iraqi democracy will wither.” (Editorial, “An End To The Iraq War? Only For The U.S.,” The Washington Post, 10/22/11)
The Washington Post: Doubted That The Move Was “Responsible.” “In the meantime Mr. Obama will surely boast on the campaign trail, as he did Friday at the White House, that he has fulfilled his 2008 pledge ‘to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end.’ End it will, for Americans if not for Iraqis; as for ‘responsible,’ count us among the doubters.” (Editorial, “An End To The Iraq War? Only For The U.S.,” The Washington Post, 10/22/11)
The Wall Street Journal Editorial: “There Are Serious Risks In This Complete Withdrawal.” “There are serious risks in this complete withdrawal. Iraq has made great progress in providing its own security, with some 600,000 Iraqi troops gradually taking the handoff from U.S. forces. But the Iraqis still lack vital military assets in intelligence and logistics, not to mention naval and air power. Mr. Obama said the U.S. will continue to discuss ‘how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces,’ but this is no substitute for a more robust, long-term presence of the kind we retain in South Korea and Japan 60 years after the end of the Korean War.” (Editorial, “Leaving Iraq Behind,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/24/11)
Lt. General Robert Caslen In 2011: With No Agreement To Keep U.S. Trainers In Iraq, There’s “A Significant Training Gap In The Iraqi Security Forces.” “As the last U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq, it that country faces major gaps in its ability to build a military capable of securing its borders and airspace from external attacks, according to U.S. military officials. Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, who oversees U.S. training and equipping of Iraqi forces, says Iraq’s military is chiefly concerned with building the capacity to secure its airspace and vast land borders, which it shares with Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey. But the United States did not reach an agreement with Iraq over the terms for keeping U.S. troops in the country to provide training. ‘That leaves a significant training gap in the Iraqi security forces,’ Caslen said. ‘Iraqi security forces are going to have to address how to meet that training gap in the future.’” (Jim Michaels, “U.S. Official Says Iraqi Forces Face Training Gap,” USA Today, 12/7/11)
In 2008, Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qadr Said “In Regard To The Borders… Our Calculation Appears That We Are Not Going To Be Able To Answer To Any External Threats Until 2018 To 2020.” “The Iraqi defense minister said Monday that his nation would not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until 2012, nor be able on its own to defend Iraq’s borders from external threat until at least 2018. ‘In regard to the borders, regarding protection from any external threats, our calculation appears that we are not going to be able to answer to any external threats until 2018 to 2020,’ he added.” (Thom Shanker, “Minister Sees Need For U.S. Help In Iraq Until 2018,” The New York Times, 1/15/08)
Clinton Supports Obama’s ISIS Strategy:
Clinton On ISIS: “We Now Finally Are Where We Need To Be.” CLINTON: “Look at these complex problems. I wish it could be either or I wish we could say yes, let’s go destroy ISIS and let’s let Assad continue to destroy Syria which creates more terrorists, more extremists by the minute. No. We now finally are where we need to be. We have a strategy and a commitment to go after ISIS which is a danger to us as well as the region, and we finally have a UN Security Council resolution bringing the world together to go after a political transition in Syria. If the United States does not lead there is not another leader, there is a vacuum and we have to lead if we’re going to be successful.” (Hillary Clinton, Democratic Primary Debate, Manchester, NH, 12/19/15)
Bloomberg’s Megan Murphy: Clinton’s ISIS Remark Is “Really Going To Hurt” In A General Election. HALPERIN: “Any of that a problem for the general election?” MURPHY: “That ISIS quote’s really going to hurt as she goes on.” (Bloomberg’s “With All Due Respect,” 12/21/15)
In December 2015, Clinton Said That Obama’s ISIS Strategy “Is Close To Mine.” QUESTION: “Anything you would have said differently or disagreed with respect to President Obama’s address [inaudible]?” CLINTON: “I was really happy that he made the address. I thought it was very important for him to address the nation. And you know, I think his take on what needs to be done is close to mine.” (Hillary Clinton, Interview With The Concord Monitor Editorial Board, 12/8/15)
In February 2015, Clinton Said Obama Is Making “The Right Moves” In The Effort Against ISIS. QUESTION: “Do you think enough is being done?” CLINTON: “Well, I think that it’s a very hard challenge because you can’t very well put American or western troops in to fight this organism. You have to use not only air force, but also army soldiers, from the region, and particularly from Iraq… So yes, I think a lot of the right moves are being made, but this is a really complicated and long term problem.” (Hillary Clinton, Interview With ReCode, 2/24/15)
Despite All The Warnings Before The Withdrawal, In 2014 Clinton Said She Could Not Have Predicted The Subsequent Violence In Iraq And Rise Of ISIS:
In June 2014, Clinton Deflected The Responsibility She Carried As Secretary In Anticipating The Crisis, Saying She “Could Not Have Predicted” The Success Of ISIS In The Region. CLINTON: “So this is not just a Syrian problem anymore. I never thought it was just a Syrian problem. I thought it was a regional problem. I could not have predicted, however, the extent to which ISIS could be effective in seizing cities in Iraq and trying to erase boundaries to create an Islamic state.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Council On Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 6/12/14)
Clinton Called Iraq “A Dreadful Deteriorating Situation.” HAASS: “And given what’s going on Iraq, the unraveling in Iraq, where there is no residual American force, are you comfortable or uncomfortable with a calendar other than a conditions based approach to what we’re going to do in Afghanistan.” CLINTON: “Well, first let me say on Iraq, because that’s in the news and it’s a dreadful deteriorating situation.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Council On Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 6/12/14)
Obama’s Former Defense Secretaries Say Obama And His Advisors “Underestimated ISIS All Along,” And “Were Not Prepared”:
Former Obama Defense Secretary Robert Gates: Obama And His Advisors “Have Underestimated ISIS All Along.” GATES: “So I think this is a very long term problem. I think that the President and his advisors have underestimated ISIS all along.” (Interview With Robert Gates, Yahoo News , 1/19/16)
According To Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, The Advancement Of ISIS Came As A “Jolt” To The Obama Administration. “While the White House sought to stay out of the conflict in Syria, the Islamic State’s lightning advance into northern Iraq in June 2014 — with Baghdad’s army collapsing in retreat — came as a ‘jolt’ to the administration, Hagel said.” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
After Hagel Described The Threat Of ISIS As “Beyond Anything We’ve Seen,” The Obama White House Was Not Happy And Criticized His Remarks. “Asked at a press conference in August of that year about the nature of the threat posed by the Islamic State, Hagel told reporters that ‘this is beyond anything that we’ve seen.’ He cited the group’s military skill, financial resources, and adept online propaganda as an unprecedented danger that surpassed previous terrorist organizations. Some administration officials were not happy with Hagel’s description, and ‘I got some criticism from the White House,’ he said.” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
Hagel On ISIS: “In Many Ways, We Were Not Prepared For It.” “‘Then I got accused of trying to hype something, overstate something, and make something more than it was,’ Hagel said. ‘I didn’t know all of it, but I knew we were up against something here that we had never seen before. And in many ways, we were not prepared for it.’” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
press (https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/hillary-clinton-and-president-obama-led-to-the-rise-of-isis)
The Failed Clinton-Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine Has Led To The Rise Of ISIS And It’s Expansion Through The Middle East
The Failed Clinton-Obama Foreign Policy Set The Stage For ISIS:
Prior To Clinton's Tenure As Secretary Of State, There Was No ISIS And Its Precursor "Continued To Struggle To Maintain Relevance." "Through 2011, Coalition forces continued to coordinate efforts with tribal security forces, killing the majority of AQI's leadership and leaving it in general disarray. [60] Both Masri and Baghdadi were killed in a joint U.S.-Iraqi raid on April 18, 2010. After the April raid, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (not to be confused with the deceased, Abu Umar al-Baghdadi) assumed control of an AQI severely weakened by local backlash and coalition and local security forces. [61] AQI continued to struggle to maintain relevance through 2011, when Coalition forces withdrew." ("The Islamic State," Stanford University's Mapping Militant Organizations, 4/4/16)
Interventions In Libya, Turmoil In Syria, And U.S. Troop Withdrawals From Iraq Created Power Vacuums ISIS Was Able To Exploit. “The story of ISIS teaches the same basic lesson that emerged from America’s other failures in the Middle East over the last decade: Attempts by the United States or Islamist rebels to topple authoritarian regimes—in Iraq, Libya, and now Syria—create power vacuums. This empty political space will be filled by extremists unless the United States and its allies build strong local forces that can suppress terrorist groups and warlords both. When the U.S. creates such local forces, it must be persistent. If it withdraws from these efforts, as America did in Iraq in 2011, it invites mayhem. Halfway American intervention has produced nothing but trouble. Rebels have gotten enough support to continue fighting, but not enough to win.” (David Ignatius, “How ISIS Spread In The Middle East,” The Atlantic, 10/29/15)
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Blamed The Obama Administration For Making Poor Decisions That Fueled The Rise Of ISIS. “Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes the Obama White House during his tenure was wrong on some key decisions in the Middle East that are now fueling the fire that ISIS has set in the region. In a sit-down interview with NBC News' Andrea Mitchell following the release of his new book, ‘Worthy Fights,’ Panetta notes that he disagreed with the moves to completely pull American troops out of Iraq, to not quickly arm the moderate rebels fighting Syria’s Bashar Assad and not acting decisively when Assad crossed the ‘red line’ of using chemical weapons on his people.” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
Panetta Believes Had Obama Not Broken With The Bush Strategy, Iraq May Have Turned Out Differently. “After being director for the CIA for two and a half years, Panetta took over as secretary of defense in July 2011, about six months before the U.S. withdrew all troops from Iraq following a breakdown of negotiations between Obama and then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Original plans from the Bush administration had called for a “transnational force” of tens of thousands of troops to remain in the country after major fighting had ended. ‘I don't think there's any question that, had we left 8,000, 10,000 troops there, plus our intelligence operations, plus a strong diplomatic presence, that that would've had an impact,’ said Panetta.” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
Panetta Says That Obama Leaving Iraq And His Inaction On Syria Helped Create ISIS. “He says that and a lack of concern for the civil war in Syria — and the president not acting decisively when it was proven that Assad used chemical weapons — helped created fertile ground for ISIS to grow strong. ‘I think when we stepped out of Iraq, in many ways, we created this vacuum in which not a lot of attention was paid to what was happening in Iraq or what was happening in Syria with the extremists who were developing a base of operations there,’ said Panetta. ‘That combination, plus obviously not getting all of the intelligence that we should've had on it, I think is what produced the ISIS that we're confronting today.’” (Andrea Mithcell, “Leon Panetta: U.S. Mistakes Helped Create ‘Vacuum’ That Spawned ISIS,” NBC NEWS, 10/7/14)
“Amid This Vacuum, Fanatical Islamists Have Flourish In Both Iraq And Syria Under The Banner Of Al Qaeda, As The Two Countries’ Conflicts Amplify Each Other And Foster Ever-Deeper Radicalism.” “Amid this vacuum, fanatical Islamists have flourished in both Iraq and Syria under the banner of Al Qaeda, as the two countries’ conflicts amplify each other and foster ever-deeper radicalism. Behind much of it is the bitter rivalry of two great oil powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose rulers — claiming to represent Shiite and Sunni Islam, respectively — cynically deploy a sectarian agenda that makes almost any sort of accommodation a heresy.” (Ben Hubbard, Robert F. Worth, Michael R. Gordon, “Power Vacuum In Middle East Lifts Militants,” The New York Times, 1/4/14)
“Moving To The Regional Level, The Power Vacuum Is Even More Obvious.” “Moving to the regional level, the power vacuum is even more obvious. There is arguably not a single great power remaining in the region. The states traditionally at the core of Arab power politics — Egypt, Syria, and Iraq — are all flat on their backs, torn by political failure and societal division and unable to play any kind of meaningful role.” (Marc Lynch, “The Middle East Power Vacuum,” Foreign Policy, 10/25/13)
Bernie Sanders Blamed Hillary Clinton And Her Policies For The Vacuum In The Middle East. “But isn't that what the Clinton tried to do just a few years ago?, Sanders asked, adding if it were up to him, removing Assad would take a clear back seat to efforts against the Islamic State. His argument is that regime change is the quintessential example of America's act-first, think-later approach to problem-solving abroad that got America drawn into the Middle East in the first place. ‘Yes, we could get rid of Saddam Hussein, but that destabilized the entire region,’ he said. ‘Yes, we could get rid of Gaddafi, a terrible dictator, but that created a vacuum for ISIS. Yes, we could get rid of Assad tomorrow, but that would create another political vacuum that would benefit ISIS.’” (Amber Phillips, “Hillary Clinton: Regime-Changer?” The Washington Post, 12/20/15)
In The Fall Of 2011, Clinton Defended The Administration’s Decision Not To Leave A Residual Force In Iraq Despite Calls To Keep Troops In Country:
When Asked If The Failure To Have A Residual Force Contributed To Iraq’s Deteriorating Security, Secretary Clinton Blamed The Bush Administration. GREGORY: “But, Secretary Clinton, the question is whether you think this criticism is well-founded or not. Do we not endanger recent success in Iraq by not having any residual force? Is there not a legitimate prospect of civil war, which many people fear?” CLINTON: “Well, honestly, I think that they should have raised those issues when President Bush agreed to the agreement to withdraw troops by the end of this year. I feel like this is a debate that is looking backwards instead of forwards. Now, are the Iraqis all going to get along with each other for the foreseeable future? Well, let’s find out. We know that there will be continuing stresses and threats, as we see in many of the countries that we work. We had a support-and-training mission in Colombia over many years when they were facing tremendous threats from insurgent groups. We know that the violence is not going to automatically end. But President Obama has shown great leadership in navigating to this point, fulfilling his promise, meeting the obligations that were entered into before he ever came into office. We are providing a support-and-training mission. We will be there on the ground, working with the Iraqis. And I just want to add, David, that no one should miscalculate America’s resolve and commitment to helping support the Iraqi democracy. We have paid too high a price to give the Iraqis this chance, and I hope that Iran and no one else miscalculates that.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 10/23/11)
Clinton: “The Death Of Osama Bin Laden Has Put Al-Qaida On The Path To Defeat.” HILLARY CLINTON: “Against this backdrop, the death of Osama bin Laden has put al-Qaida on the path to defeat. And as President Obama has pledged, we will not relent until that job is done.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks On Counterterrorism At John Jay School Of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, 6/23/11)
Multiple U.S. Military Commanders In Iraq Advocated For Keeping Troops In Iraq To Prevent Another Round Of Conflict. “Gen. Odierno recently told Fox News: ‘If we had stayed a little more engaged, I think maybe it might have been prevented. I’ve always believed the United States played the role of honest broker between all the groups, and when we pulled ourselves out, we lost that role.’ He had recommended keeping 35,000 troops in place in 2011. ‘I think it would have been good for us to stay,’ he said. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, a commander in Iraq’s Anbar province, in his July 9 confirmation hearing to be the next Joint Chiefs chairman, differed with those who said the U.S. had no choice but to leave because Iraq’s prime minister was not meeting U.S. demands. ‘I’m not sure I’d say that that meant we had no option to stay,’ he told the Senate Committee on Armed Services.” (Rowan Scarborough, “U.S. Troop Withdrawal Let Islamic State Enter Iraq, Military Leaders Say,” The Washington Times, 7/26/16)
His Decision To Prematurely Withdraw U.S. Forces From Iraq Created A Vacuum Into Which ISIS Grew, And Thrived. “In seeking reelection, President Obama claimed to have ended the war in Iraq and promised to end the war in Afghanistan by 2014. His decision to prematurely withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq created a vacuum into which ISIS grew, and thrived. Reducing the American military presence in Afghanistan has allowed the Taliban to expand its control on the war-torn country.” (Editorial, “A Welcome Reversal: Obama Slows Afghanistan Drawdown,” Union Leader, 7/7/16)
“As The United States Prepares To Withdraw Its Troops From Iraq By Year’s End, Senior American And Iraqi Officials Are Expressing Concern That Al Qaeda’s Offshoot Here … Is Poised For A Deadly Resurgence.” “As the United States prepares to withdraw its troops from Iraq by year’s end, senior American and Iraqi officials are expressing growing concern that Al Qaeda’s offshoot here, which just a few years ago waged a debilitating insurgency that plunged the country into a civil war, is poised for a deadly resurgence.” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
Al Qaeda In Iraq Shifted “Its Tactics And Strategies … To Exploit Gaps Left By The Departing American Troops And To Try To Reignite Sectarian Violence In The Country.” “Although the organization is certainly weaker than it was at its peak five years ago and is unlikely to regain its prior strength, American and Iraqi analysts said the Qaeda franchise is shifting its tactics and strategies – like attacking Iraqi security forces in small squads – to exploit gaps left by the departing American troops and to try to reignite sectarian violence in the country.” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
Major General Jeffrey Buchanan: “I Cringe Whenever Anybody Makes A Pronouncement That Al Qaeda Is On Its Last Legs.” “‘I cringe whenever anybody makes a pronouncement that Al Qaeda is on its last legs,’ said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, the American military’s top spokesman in Iraq. ‘I think one day we are going to look around and say it’s been a long time since we have heard from Al Qaeda, and maybe then we can say it is on its last legs.’” (Michael Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, “Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge Of Qaeda Terror,” The New York Times, 11/5/11)
The Washington Post Editorial:The Complete Withdrawal Decision “Increases The Risk That Painfully Won Security Gains In Iraq Will Come Undone; That Iran Will Be Handed A Crucial Strategic Advantage” And That The U.S.-Iraqi Alliance “Will Wither.” “It could be, as White House officials argued, that the government of Nouri al-Maliki and its armed forces can manage all these threats without help or training from American soldiers, who have already played a secondary role since the end of combat operations last year. But Mr. Obama’s decision to carry out a complete withdrawal sharply increases the risk that painfully won security gains in Iraq will come undone; that Iran will be handed a crucial strategic advantage in its regional cold war with the United States; and that a potentially invaluable U.S. alliance with an emerging Iraqi democracy will wither.” (Editorial, “An End To The Iraq War? Only For The U.S.,” The Washington Post, 10/22/11)
The Washington Post: Doubted That The Move Was “Responsible.” “In the meantime Mr. Obama will surely boast on the campaign trail, as he did Friday at the White House, that he has fulfilled his 2008 pledge ‘to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end.’ End it will, for Americans if not for Iraqis; as for ‘responsible,’ count us among the doubters.” (Editorial, “An End To The Iraq War? Only For The U.S.,” The Washington Post, 10/22/11)
The Wall Street Journal Editorial: “There Are Serious Risks In This Complete Withdrawal.” “There are serious risks in this complete withdrawal. Iraq has made great progress in providing its own security, with some 600,000 Iraqi troops gradually taking the handoff from U.S. forces. But the Iraqis still lack vital military assets in intelligence and logistics, not to mention naval and air power. Mr. Obama said the U.S. will continue to discuss ‘how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces,’ but this is no substitute for a more robust, long-term presence of the kind we retain in South Korea and Japan 60 years after the end of the Korean War.” (Editorial, “Leaving Iraq Behind,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/24/11)
Lt. General Robert Caslen In 2011: With No Agreement To Keep U.S. Trainers In Iraq, There’s “A Significant Training Gap In The Iraqi Security Forces.” “As the last U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq, it that country faces major gaps in its ability to build a military capable of securing its borders and airspace from external attacks, according to U.S. military officials. Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, who oversees U.S. training and equipping of Iraqi forces, says Iraq’s military is chiefly concerned with building the capacity to secure its airspace and vast land borders, which it shares with Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey. But the United States did not reach an agreement with Iraq over the terms for keeping U.S. troops in the country to provide training. ‘That leaves a significant training gap in the Iraqi security forces,’ Caslen said. ‘Iraqi security forces are going to have to address how to meet that training gap in the future.’” (Jim Michaels, “U.S. Official Says Iraqi Forces Face Training Gap,” USA Today, 12/7/11)
In 2008, Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qadr Said “In Regard To The Borders… Our Calculation Appears That We Are Not Going To Be Able To Answer To Any External Threats Until 2018 To 2020.” “The Iraqi defense minister said Monday that his nation would not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until 2012, nor be able on its own to defend Iraq’s borders from external threat until at least 2018. ‘In regard to the borders, regarding protection from any external threats, our calculation appears that we are not going to be able to answer to any external threats until 2018 to 2020,’ he added.” (Thom Shanker, “Minister Sees Need For U.S. Help In Iraq Until 2018,” The New York Times, 1/15/08)
Clinton Supports Obama’s ISIS Strategy:
Clinton On ISIS: “We Now Finally Are Where We Need To Be.” CLINTON: “Look at these complex problems. I wish it could be either or I wish we could say yes, let’s go destroy ISIS and let’s let Assad continue to destroy Syria which creates more terrorists, more extremists by the minute. No. We now finally are where we need to be. We have a strategy and a commitment to go after ISIS which is a danger to us as well as the region, and we finally have a UN Security Council resolution bringing the world together to go after a political transition in Syria. If the United States does not lead there is not another leader, there is a vacuum and we have to lead if we’re going to be successful.” (Hillary Clinton, Democratic Primary Debate, Manchester, NH, 12/19/15)
Bloomberg’s Megan Murphy: Clinton’s ISIS Remark Is “Really Going To Hurt” In A General Election. HALPERIN: “Any of that a problem for the general election?” MURPHY: “That ISIS quote’s really going to hurt as she goes on.” (Bloomberg’s “With All Due Respect,” 12/21/15)
In December 2015, Clinton Said That Obama’s ISIS Strategy “Is Close To Mine.” QUESTION: “Anything you would have said differently or disagreed with respect to President Obama’s address [inaudible]?” CLINTON: “I was really happy that he made the address. I thought it was very important for him to address the nation. And you know, I think his take on what needs to be done is close to mine.” (Hillary Clinton, Interview With The Concord Monitor Editorial Board, 12/8/15)
In February 2015, Clinton Said Obama Is Making “The Right Moves” In The Effort Against ISIS. QUESTION: “Do you think enough is being done?” CLINTON: “Well, I think that it’s a very hard challenge because you can’t very well put American or western troops in to fight this organism. You have to use not only air force, but also army soldiers, from the region, and particularly from Iraq… So yes, I think a lot of the right moves are being made, but this is a really complicated and long term problem.” (Hillary Clinton, Interview With ReCode, 2/24/15)
Despite All The Warnings Before The Withdrawal, In 2014 Clinton Said She Could Not Have Predicted The Subsequent Violence In Iraq And Rise Of ISIS:
In June 2014, Clinton Deflected The Responsibility She Carried As Secretary In Anticipating The Crisis, Saying She “Could Not Have Predicted” The Success Of ISIS In The Region. CLINTON: “So this is not just a Syrian problem anymore. I never thought it was just a Syrian problem. I thought it was a regional problem. I could not have predicted, however, the extent to which ISIS could be effective in seizing cities in Iraq and trying to erase boundaries to create an Islamic state.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Council On Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 6/12/14)
Clinton Called Iraq “A Dreadful Deteriorating Situation.” HAASS: “And given what’s going on Iraq, the unraveling in Iraq, where there is no residual American force, are you comfortable or uncomfortable with a calendar other than a conditions based approach to what we’re going to do in Afghanistan.” CLINTON: “Well, first let me say on Iraq, because that’s in the news and it’s a dreadful deteriorating situation.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Council On Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 6/12/14)
Obama’s Former Defense Secretaries Say Obama And His Advisors “Underestimated ISIS All Along,” And “Were Not Prepared”:
Former Obama Defense Secretary Robert Gates: Obama And His Advisors “Have Underestimated ISIS All Along.” GATES: “So I think this is a very long term problem. I think that the President and his advisors have underestimated ISIS all along.” (Interview With Robert Gates, Yahoo News , 1/19/16)
According To Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, The Advancement Of ISIS Came As A “Jolt” To The Obama Administration. “While the White House sought to stay out of the conflict in Syria, the Islamic State’s lightning advance into northern Iraq in June 2014 — with Baghdad’s army collapsing in retreat — came as a ‘jolt’ to the administration, Hagel said.” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
After Hagel Described The Threat Of ISIS As “Beyond Anything We’ve Seen,” The Obama White House Was Not Happy And Criticized His Remarks. “Asked at a press conference in August of that year about the nature of the threat posed by the Islamic State, Hagel told reporters that ‘this is beyond anything that we’ve seen.’ He cited the group’s military skill, financial resources, and adept online propaganda as an unprecedented danger that surpassed previous terrorist organizations. Some administration officials were not happy with Hagel’s description, and ‘I got some criticism from the White House,’ he said.” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
Hagel On ISIS: “In Many Ways, We Were Not Prepared For It.” “‘Then I got accused of trying to hype something, overstate something, and make something more than it was,’ Hagel said. ‘I didn’t know all of it, but I knew we were up against something here that we had never seen before. And in many ways, we were not prepared for it.’” (Dan De Luce, “Hagel: The White House Tried To ‘Destroy’ Me,” Foreign Policy, 12/18/15)
press (https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/hillary-clinton-and-president-obama-led-to-the-rise-of-isis)