White House Admits That Obama’s ISIS Strategy Speech Is Just An Extension Of Non-Strategy

September 9, 2014 by Sam Rolley 

FILE

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest

President Barack Obama suffered the wrath of political pundits, lawmakers and average Americans spanning the political divide when he announced last week that his administration didn’t have a concrete strategy for dealing with the Islamic State terror threat festering in the Middle East. The president now claims to have a plan. But as more details emerge about the strategy Obama will reveal Wednesday, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Americans who are hoping for a firm stance and a clear objective will be thoroughly disappointed.
The suggestion that Obama’s ISIS strategy will lack substance isn’t being — or, at least, wasn’t first — promulgated by conservative critics frothing at the mouth to attack the president at every turn. It was Josh Earnest, the president’s press secretary, who told reporters Tuesday that Americans shouldn’t listen to Obama’s Wednesday remarks with hopes of learning what exactly the president plans to do militarily, how much it will cost, how long it will take or whether he intends to consult Congress.
“In the context of the speech that the president is preparing for tomorrow, I wouldn’t expect something that’s quite that detailed,” Earnest said.
Earnest added that Obama “would certainly welcome support from members of Congress” and anticipates “intensive consultations” with lawmakers.
“I’m confident that the president and the congressional leaders will have the kind of meeting that reflects the seriousness of the situation,” Earnest said.
According to the official, lawmakers have been given access to classified information on the ISIS threat and are invited to attend a briefing on Thursday.
“That is an indication and just gives you a little snapshot of this administration’s commitment to robust consultation with Congress,” he said.
That commitment evidently doesn’t extend to answering further questions from lawmakers, as Earnest noted: “I assume that each of these members of Congress has a television … if they are unsatisfied with the consultations they have gotten, we strongly encourage them to tune into the president’s address.”
Earnest also suggested that the president won’t go so far as telling the public what he would like for Congress to authorize or providing a deadline for action.
So what does the White House want Americans to take away from Obama’s speech?
A little faith.
“I think the American people should be confident that their commander in chief and that their government is expending significant time and resources to ensure that we are using every tool at our disposal to protect the American people,” Earnest said.

Filed Under: Liberty News, Staff Reports