President Barack Obama on Monday conceded that the Paris terror attacks were a “terrible and sickening setback” in the fight against the ISIS, but forcefully dismissed critics who have called for the US to change or expand its military campaign against the extremists.
“The strategy that we are putting forward is the strategy that ultimately is going to work,” Obama said during a news conference at the close of two days of talks with world leaders. “It’s going to take time.”
The president grew irritated amid repeated questions about whether he had underestimated the strength of the ISIS. He said most of his critics are simply “talking as if they’re tough” and offering no real ideas. And he brushed aside those who call for sending US Ground troops into the region, saying that “would be a mistake” and wouldn’t work unless the US was committed to being a permanent occupying force in the region.
“This is not an abstraction,” Obama said. “When we send troops in, those troops get injured. They get killed.”