Obama: Attacks ‘terrible’ setback in Islamic State campaign

– Suspect Salah Abdeslam was stopped near the Belgian border by French police shortly after the Paris attacks Friday night, but he was not a suspect at that time and was let go, sources told CNN.

Obama said the United States would stick to its current strategy in the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, again ruling out putting USA troops on the ground in a fighting capacity. In addition to the terror spree in Paris, the group has claimed responsibility for attacks in Lebanon and Turkey, as well as the downing of a Russian airline in Egypt. And he brushed aside those who call for sending USA 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.

The USA will continue a strategy that concentrates on military power, in the form of airstrikes and working with local forces, economic pressure and attempts to stabilize failed states where the group has thrived, Obama said. And let’s assume that we were to send 50,000 troops into Syria, what happens when there is a terrorist attack generated from Yemen? Bush has also suggested that any US assistance to refugees fleeing the Middle East should be primarily focused on Christians, another idea that rankled Obama. “That’s not American. That’s not who we are”.

Obama also argued that the United States should not back away from plans to accept Syrian refugees. The president’s approach centers largely on airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, as well as programs to train and equip moderate opposition forces. He said most of the deaths in Syria have been caused by ground attacks and that a true safe zone would require ground troops.

Obama said he envisioned escalating that strategy, not overhauling it. And he called on other nations to step up their involvement in the fight against the extremists.

Obama made his remarks after the the deadly attacks in Paris carried out on Friday by the so-called Islamic State left at least 129 dead and hundreds more injured.

Obama says there has not been enough pushback by Muslim leaders against extremism.

President Obama has focused on dismantling the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS and ISIL, through airstrikes. They overshadowed the two-day summit, which took place just 500 km (310 miles) from Syria. Seven terrorists were killed, one fewer than ISIS said were involved, Molins said.

“There are still disagreements between the parties, including, most critically, over the fate of Bashar Assad who we do not believe has a role in Syria’s future because of his brutal rule”, Obama said as he accused the Syrian leader of waging a war against his own people. He said he is aware his approach doesn’t offer the satisfaction of a “neat headline” or an immediate solution.

His comments, in response to a series of critical questions from reporters at the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, were in stark contrast to a speech delivered by French President Francoise Hollande at the same time.