U.S. Calls On NATO Allies to Help Fight ISIS
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In the same speech, President Obama compared military tactics against Al-Qaeda to ISIS, saying, "...You systematically degrade their capabilities, you narrow their scope of action."
The president has NATO's support in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict that's been boiling all summer, since Russia's incursion into Crimea. But appeals to NATO for a united front against militant group ISIS were met with a coalition focusing more on humanitarian and economic efforts, according to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
At home, Obama is engaged in a power struggle with Congress for the authority any long-term military action that may be declared against ISIS, according to The Daily Beast.
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) announced his plan on Wednesday to put forward the bill "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against International Terrorism Act," which would grant the president, in cooperation with NATO, the right to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against terrorist groups.
In a joint article published in the Times of London Thursday, President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron said, "...Those who believe in stepping back and adopting an isolationist approach misunderstand the nature of security in the 21st century. Developments in other parts of the world, particularly in Iraq and Syria threaten our security at home." The leaders went on to say that in addition to military means, they supported politcal and economic means of fighting terrorism.
Obama and Cameron called for NATO to build an alliance because, "Ultimately by working together we are stronger, whether in standing up to Russia or confronting ISIL."
Watch the president's speech on NBC News.
Reach Web Producer Arielle Samuelson here.
