With several Pentagon officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford and Press Secretary Peter Cook talking up military efforts to lay the groundwork for a US war in Libya, which Dunford suggested would be formalized in several weeks, President Obama is starting to talk up the idea too.
The White House confirmed today that President Obama has ordered his national security advisers to draw up plans to “counter” ISIS efforts to expand in Libya. Defense Secretary Ash Carter confirmed the move, saying several options are being drawn up.
Still, Carter claimed that no decision has been made yet on attacking Libya, and that the US is just watching the situation “very carefully.” He also talked up efforts to back “the Libyans,” though he didn’t indicate which ones, likely reflecting Cook’s comments yesterday that the US is seeking “worthy” factions to back.
Carter’s denial that a decision has been made may be technically true, but given the comments of Gen. Dunford it is very misleading, as clearly the broader decision has already been made, and the questions are just the specifics and the timing of the announcement.
“counter” ISIS? really? maybe you should stop supporting them Ash Carter. Looks like an excuse to violently take over all of the middle east countries.
Yeah, since the US has been so successful at countering IS elsewhere.
Gumby and his legacy.
I can see what this is all about Obama – send soldiers to Libya so you can push those Ameri-isis soldiers that left Syria because of the Russians – back to Syria. Tons of Rebels must have left Syria and went to Libya –Now Obama wants them back in Syria. Snakey to say the least
When you have a military more expensive than the next nine countries combined, you should be able to do something measurable. The US used to “defeat” its enemies. Bush “prevailed”; BHO is “degrading” ISIS in Iraq/Syria and now they are going to “counter” ISIS in Libya. What is next – bore them to death?