Obama on fight against Islamic State: ‘Russia is the outlier’

France’s Francois Hollande was unable Tuesday to overcome President Barack Obama’s skepticism about a possible collaboration with Russian Federation in the fight against the Islamic State, a goal the US leader said depends on a previous “strategic shift” by Moscow.

“We have never forgotten how the French people stood with us after 9/11”, said Mr Obama, standing next to Mr Hollande in the White House’s East Room in remarks that were personal and emotional.

The United States and France today said they would welcome Russian Federation in the 65-nation global coalition against Islamic State if it changes its strategy in Syria.

“Calling ISIS a “scourge that threatens all of us”, Obama vowed “total solidarity” with France in the battle to defeat the group”.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: It can not be tolerated. It must be destroyed.

Hollande said he and Obama “shared our relentless determination to fight terrorism anywhere and everywhere”, and agreed more needed to be done to combat Islamic State’s efforts domestically and in Iraq and Syria, where the group controls wide swathes of territory. Turkey’s downing of the warplane is the most serious incident involving Russian forces since they entered the conflict in support of Assad.

Asked about the hopes of forming his grand coalition, the French president said that the entire world is committed to beating Islamic State and he hopes to obtain the cooperation of Russian Federation following a visit Thursday with President Putin.

“We have to let the Vienna process play itself out”, Obama said, referring to an agreement among 17 countries that lays out a timeline for a political transition in Syria.

“Until that happens, it’s very hard”, Obama said of the Syrian situation. He said that US security agencies are working tirelessly to preserve America’s national security.

He noted that French airstrikes carried out over Syria last week were based on targets that were identified using US intelligence and were backed up by a USA search-and-rescue team in case the strikes went awry.

Obama, at a joint news conference with Hollande, said there was growing recognition in Europe after the November 13 attacks in Paris that more needs to be done to prevent the flow of foreign fighters. “Even as we are vigilant, we cannot and we will not succumb to fear nor can we allow fear to divide us, for that is how terrorists win”. There have been times in our history in moments of fear, when we have failed to uphold our highest ideals.

Both Obama and Hollande sought to put the onus on Russian Federation to join their coalition, and Obama cast Russian Federation as part of an isolated faction with Assad and Iran that would not succeed in its aims in Syria. “Until that happens”, he said.

Both Hollande and Obama urged Turkey and Russian Federation to avoid escalating the plane crisis.

“In that stadium, concert hall, restaurants and cafes we see our own”, Obama said. The French president claimed Islamic State supply lines and command centers will be the next targets for the ever-intensifying airstrikes in Syria, but specified France will not be sending ground forces to the area. “An implacable joint response”. “We Americans love France because we dedicate ourselves to the same ideals”, Obama said.