POTUS on Ebola, IS, Russia and European Leaders - The New War on Terror

The White House: Reports on a readout of a telephone call between POTUS and European leaders, " Today, the President participated in a video conference with his counterparts Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, President François Hollande of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy.  The group discussed the international response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, including steps that are being taken to counter the spread of the disease.  The President stressed the need for a faster and more robust international response to the Ebola epidemic, and underscored the need to increase assistance and international contributions for Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.  The leaders agreed to work together to enlist greater support from more countries and to coordinate their efforts on the ground.  President Obama made clear that the world must marshal the finances as well as the international personnel required to bend the curve of the epidemic, noting that it constitutes a human tragedy as well as a threat to international security.

On ISIL, the group reviewed coalition efforts to date in the campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL in Iraq and Syria, including stemming the flow of foreign fighters and building the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces and the moderate Syrian opposition.  The President stressed that the military dimension of the campaign is just one aspect of the broader effort to counter ISIL.  He noted the importance of countering ISIL propaganda, and our ongoing efforts to put forward an affirmative vision that contrasts with ISIL’s violent and hateful ideology. The leaders also agreed that the coalition will continue to coordinate in order to counter sources of ISIL funding. 

On Ukraine, the leaders discussed the need for Russia to fulfill all of its obligations under the Minsk agreements.  Additionally, they discussed efforts to work alongside international financial institutions to support Ukraine’s economy.  

The President looks forward to continuing his conversations with his counterparts. "

Lets Get Real:

As to Ebola you have more chance of getting the flu and that kills thousands every year around the World.  As for IS the air power strategy seems to be working so far in Syria, if not that much in Iraq, there is still the need for ground troops at some point, these troops have to follow on from the success of the air strikes, the West needs to gain and hold land in Syria and Iraq.  As for the Russian Bear it has gone quite, it will wake up, lets see what else the bear does, giving back Crimea would be a start and getting out of East Ukraine would help matters, not holding my breath for that.   

Obama and the IS factor in US politics - The New War on Terror

Fox News: Reports on its own poll on POTUS and IS, the poll found that " By a 57-34 percent margin, voters say Obama “waited too long” to take action against ISIS. "

Lets Get Real: 

This is a major headwind that is faced by Democrats in the Mid Term election in a few weeks, a weak President who has not dealt with a major threat to the US.   The Democrats are running as far as possible from President Obama, from reports it seems that the White House has given the candidates the green light to get some distance from the Oval.   It is a question of who has the best ground operation, in 2012 the Democrats increase the number of people voting Democrat, can they do the same in the local House and Senate races, possible but one has doubts, POTUS is not running this year, will people go out to vote for the local Democrat on the ballot, only time will tell, as of now it looks like the House is safe for the Republicans, the question is what about the Senate, still to hard to say, as we get closer to the election this blog will make a prediction, to early at the moment. 

Is the Air War winning in Syria? - The New War on Terror

Telegraph: Reports " US-led airstrikes kill 'hundreds' of Islamic State fighters in Kobane..Coalition airstikes on Islamic State fighters in Kobane helping push militants back from key border town "

Lets Get Real:

Some GOOD news from Kobane, even if its a tactical success in pushing IS out of Kobane, the Western voter wants to see success and fast, the increase of air attacks on IS has been a battleground success and a PR success, Obama has stated the War is in its early stages, thus there will be hundreds of more attacks on IS over the months and years.   The question is what will IS do, will they gain the ability to shoot down Western and Allies planes, they have the money to get the weapons the black market and to be trained in their use.    As of late the success of IS had seen been seen more in Iraq and Syria, while the Oval was going on abut its air plan, if the Oval can push back IS with air power alone then the strategic victory will be of benefit for POTUS and those calls for boots on the ground will be seen as hasty and not giving time for the Obama strategy to work.    The next few days will be very interesting. 

Obama and The New War on Terror

BBC News: Reports " US President Barack Obama is to hold a video conference with European leaders to discuss combating Islamic State. "

Lets Get Real:

Lets see if the European Leaders have the courage to bring up ground troops, that is the only way that IS can be taken out, the Obama Legacy does not want two wars going on at the same time, that is how Obama got the Presidency, the left wing of the Democratic Party would not be happy, the US will keep troops in Afghanistan and will be still fighting the new war on terror as POTUS leaves office in 2017.   The Oval has to get around the statement that it would not place ground troops in Syria and iraq, if Obama keeps to his word of no troops this new War could take years and cost billion of dollars and there is a chance that he US and its allies could lose.   There NEEDS to be Western ground troops in Syria and Iraq, it is that brutal and simple.