Envoys defend Obama’s policy against Islamic State in Syria

However, they said, the U.S.is providing humanitarian support and pressing Russian Federation to pressure ally Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop barrel bombing Syrian civilians and rebel fighters.

About a third say they approve of Obama’s new plan to keep at least 5,500 troops there when he leaves office to prop-up Afghan security forces – and keep the country from falling back into the hands of the Taliban after 14 years of war. And I think what someone said earlier today is exactly correct, which is – we’re just trying to run out the clock. The diplomats defended President Barack Obamas policy to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria in the wake of Russian intervention that both say has dangerously destabilized the battlefield was defended during the hearing.

Royce called US airstrikes “anemic”, noting that the USA launched 100 airstrikes in October while the Russians launched 800.

President Obama’s actions mark a change in United States strategy concerning Syria. “Instead, it is now Russian Federation that is taking the decisive role in shaping Syria’s future”.

CLICK TO READ THE POLL RESULTS Last week, Obama formally announced he was sending about 50 Special Operations forces to Syria, marking the 1st time USA boots might be on the bottom there to fight ISIS.

Firstly, this past Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry reached an agreement in Vienna with 19 global and regional powers to attempt to achieve a cease-fire in Syria as well as creation of a new constitution followed by new elections.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in Orwellian fashion that the troops “are not being deployed with a combat mission â ¦ The mission of our men and women on the ground has not changed”.

But committee members – both Democrats and Republicans – were skeptical.

“The administration has looked at this over and over and over again, and there is no option on the table, nor recommended by the Department of Defense, that does not require a massive, massive amount of air support that would then detract from the effort against ISIL”, she said, using another acronym for ISIS.

“Given what’s happened on the ground that sounds like fantasy to me”, said Gerry Connolly (D-VA).

Obama has also been reluctant to commit US troops into another Middle Eastern adventure. Few Americans believe that Afghanistan can maintain a stable, democratic government once the U.S has withdrawn its troops.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said the Obama administration is leaving the Syrian crisis for the next administration to solve.

“The president appears to be running out the clock until is is someone else’s problem”, she said.