Americans Reject Obama ISIS Policy, Would Support US Troops in Iraq

The American public is changing its opinion about the war against ISIS and the way President Obama is handling it. In the latest CBS poll, Americans showed their disapproval of President Obama's efforts to keep ground troops out of Iraq and Syria. The President's position is becoming increasingly unpopular with the American public. -- the CBS poll shows that most Americans see ISIS as a "major threat" -- 65% of Americans now view ISIS as a major threat - up from 57% in October, while another 18% view it as a minor threat. Majorities of Republicans (86%), Democrats (61%) and independents (57%) view ISIS as a major threat. CBS notes that support for ground troops has risen across the board, but "particularly among Democrats and independents" since October when 56% of Democrats and 49% of independents disapproved of sending ground troops to the region. Now, 50% of Democrats approve and 53% of independents approve of sending ground troops to fight ISIS. ~~~~~ Certainly, President Obama gives many negative signals to Americans. Here, for example, is one his spokesman gave after the burning alive of the Jordanian pilot by ISIS. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest could not bring himself to say that the Obama administration supported the Jordanian decision to execute two terrorists who had been condemned to death but had been on death row for many years. Instead, Earnest awkwardly dodged the question asked by Fox News’ Ed Henry. Earnest provided the administration’s standard non-response, saying that while the US generally stood in solidarity with Jordan : “I just don’t have the working knowledge of the Jordanian justice system to render an opinion on this.” Henry tried again : the President said, you know, “We’re here, we support Jordan, they are a key member of the coalition.” They make this decision overnight, and you can’t say whether or not you support the executions? Earnest stuck to his non-response : the people of Jordan at this very difficult time. Clearly, their nation - in the same way that we all are - is shocked and appalled at this terrible act of violence that was captured on video by ISIL and released to the world. And the United States stands with our friends in Jordan as they confront this awful, barbaric act. But as it relates to the decisions that are carried by the Jordanian justice system, I’d refer you to them. I just don’t have the working knowledge of the Jordanian justice system to render an opinion on this. All I know is that the individuals that we are discussing here were individuals who were convicted of terrorism-related crimes, they were individuals who had been sentenced to death and had been serving time on death row..." ~~~~~ Then there is the impolite treatment of Obama toward Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accepted an invitation to address Congress to explain why the Iran nuclear negotiations are heading in a catastrophic direction. Netanyahu said today that the great powers have given up on trying to control Iran's nuclear capability and will allow Iran, over a period of years, to produce material for many nuclear weapons : "They might accept this but I am not willing to accept this." Netanyahu's invitation to address Congress about Iran in early March has angered the Obama administration because the President says it was arranged without consulting the White House and is therefore a breach of diplomatic protocol. In fact, Obama has been attacking Netanyahu and Israel from the beginning of his presidency, wrongly thinking that America would support him. He was wrong, but true to his stubborn character, Obama just keeps doubling down on his attacks on Netanyahu. Today, he sent his obedient pit bull, Susan Rice, to find a microphone and say that Netanyahu’s decision to travel to Washington to deliver the speech two weeks before the Israeli elections has “injected a degree of partisanship, which is not only unfortunate, I think it’s destructive of the fabric of the relationship." An Obama-ordered statement not likely to endear the President to Americans as they watch him trash the only real friend America has in the Middle East. ~~~~~ And, finally, the proof, if further proof were needed, that Obama's Middle East / ISIS strategy is in a shambles. In New York, the Justice Department announced that the FBI has arrested three men on charges of attempting to provide support to ISIS. The three men were arrested today on charges of plotting to travel to Syria to join ISIS and wage war, or attack President Obama or plant a bomb on Coney Island. Akhror Saidakhmetov was arrested at Kennedy Airport, where he was attempting to board a flight to Istanbul. Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev had a ticket to travel to Istanbul next month and was arrested in Brooklyn. Abror Habibov, accused of helping fund Saidakhmetov's efforts, was arrested in Florida. Habibov appeared in federal court in Jacksonville and was appointed a public defender. The other two men were in custody, and it was not clear if they had attorneys who could comment on the charges. They were scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn later today. Federal prosecutors say Juraboev first came to the attention of law enforcement in August, when he posted on an Uzbek-language website that propagates ISIS ideology : "Greetings! We too want to pledge our allegiance and commit ourselves while not present there. Is it possible to commit ourselves as dedicated martyrs anyway while here?" Federal officials say Juraboev identified Saidakhmetov as a friend with a shared ideology. The two exchanged messages on how to get overseas, and Saidakhmetov and an informant watched videos of ISIS training camps in Syria, according to court papers. Juraboev and Habibov are Uzbek citizens, while Saidakhmetov is from Kazakhstan. Court documents allege that Saidakhmetov and Juraboev both arranged to fly to Istanbul and then later join ISIS out of fear that US authorities would track flights closer to ISIS-controlled areas. The documents add that Saidakhmetov’s mother took his passport out of fear that he wanted to travel to “wage jihad,” but he worked with a confidential informant to receive new travel documents. He also told the informant that, if he was unable to get new documents, he would attack the FBI headquarters and : “kill the FBI people. I will just go and buy a machine gun, AK-47, go out and shoot all police,” he said, according to court documents. Federal officials are alarmed at the idea that Americans could travel to Syria to fight with ISIS or train there and return to the United States to carry out attacks against America. The FBI has charged roughly 20 people with planning to travel to the Middle East to fight alongside militant groups like the Islamic State group. The three men arrested today face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Counter-terrorism officials have previously warned that thousands of foreign fighters are traveling to join ISIS. FBI Director Comey said today that the FBI is now following potential jihadists in every one of the 50 states. ~~~~~ Dear readers, is it any wonder a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with Obama's ISIS strategy and favor fighting the terrorists in the Middle East? FBI Director Comey said today that America is entering a period in which some places in the US will be outside the law. Comey was not invited by Obama to the recent Terrorism Conference - a bizarre decision until one realizes that Comey would not have toed the Obama mantra that says we are "winning." Not only the FBI Director but the majority of Americans have now decided that we are "losing" and things need to be put right. That means Congress and the military and Intell and the FBI must act -- and the Obama administration should back off and reconsider.