Saturday, May 23, 2015

State Dept: We're not reevaluating Iraq strategy. Fedup Journalist: How do losses 'fit into the U.S. strategy?'





"So you're not degrading to the extent where [Islamic State] can't launch major offensives to retake an important strategic city?" challenged a reporter at the State Department briefing Thursday, as spokesperson Marie Harf repeatedly asserted that the current strategy to "degrade and defeat" the Islamic State is working, and that there's "no formal strategy review" taking place.

For the first 12 minutes of the briefing, Harf answered questions on the loss of the cities of Ramadi in Iraq, and Palmyra in Syria, by saying that the U.S. has cut off the Islamic State's "main source of funding" and that "we're taking fighters off the battlefield every single day. That's having an impact."

That's when a reporter decided to push back hard against her narrative.

"Was the strategy [in Iraq] wrong, though, that you lost the strategically significant town of Ramadi?" he asked. "I mean, it's given you a huge public relations disaster, and it's also deflated many people because they don't think you are actually on top of the war against ISIL. It has given them a massive boost, and may actually help with the recruitment."

"Who is 'them'? Who are you [referring to]— ... who has it deflated?"

"I think we both understand I'm talking about ISIL," answered the exasperated reporter. "It's not just random men."

"Who has it deflated? I guess I'm trying to – pundits, or who?" asked Harf....



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