Obama seeks war powers; vows defeat of Islamic State

Asserting that it will take time to dislodge Islamic State militants, President Barack Obama has sought a three-year Congressional authorisation of military action against the terror group which he said was on the defensive and “is going to lose”.

“Make no mistake this is a difficult mission, and it will remain difficult for some time. It's going to take time to dislodge these terrorists, especially from urban areas. But our coalition is on the offensive, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is on the defensive, and they are going to lose,” Obama told reporters at the White House.

He said more than 2,000 coalition airstrikes have pounded these terrorists.

“We're disrupting their command and control and supply lines, making it harder for them to move. We're destroying their fighting positions, their tanks, their vehicles, their barracks, their training camps, and the oil and gas facilities and infrastructure that fund their operations. We're taking out their commanders, their fighters and their leaders,” he said.

Obama made the remarks after sending a draft resolution to the Congress to authorise the use of force against ISIL. This resolution he said reflects America's core objective to destroy ISIL.

In a letter to lawmakers, Obama said granting him war authority “would show the world we are united in our resolve” to defeat jihadist militants who now control swaths of Syria and Iraq.

“IS poses a threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East, and to US national security,” Obama said in the letter.

“If left unchecked, the IS will pose a threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland,” he said.

Later, Obama told reporters at the White House that, “In Iraq, local forces have largely held the line and in some places have pushed ISIL back. In Syria, ISIL failed in its major push to take the town of Kobani, losing countless fighters who will never again threaten innocent civilians. And we've seen reports of sinking morale among ISIL fighters as they realise the futility of their cause,” he said.

Obama said ISIL's barbaric murders of so many people, including American hostages, are a desperate and revolting attempt to strike fear in the hearts of people it can never possibly win over by its ideas or its ideology -- because it offers nothing but misery and death and destruction.

“And with vile groups like this, there is only one option: With our allies and partners, we are going to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group,” he said.

Obama is offering to limit authorisation to three years, extending to the next president the powers and the debate over renewal for what he envisions as a long-range battle.

He, however, has not proposed any geographic limitations where US forces could pursue the militants.

“It (the resolution) supports the comprehensive strategy that we have been pursuing with our allies and partners: A systemic and sustained campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria,” Obama said.

The strategy includes “support and training for local forces on the ground, including the moderate Syrian opposition, preventing ISIL attacks in the region and beyond, including by foreign terrorist fighters who try to threaten our countries.”

It also includes, “regional and international support for an inclusive Iraqi government that unites the Iraqi people and strengthens Iraqi forces against ISIL and humanitarian assistance for the innocent civilians of Iraq and Syria, who are suffering so terribly under ISIL's reign of horror.”

The resolution, Obama said, does not call for the deployment of US ground combat forces to Iraq or Syria.

“It is not the authorisation of another ground war, like Afghanistan or Iraq,” he asserted.

Obama said the resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving US the flexibility needed for unforeseen circumstances.

“For example, if we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of ISIL leaders, and our partners didn't have the capacity to get them, I would be prepared to order our Special Forces to take action, because I will not allow these terrorists to have a safe haven,” Obama argued.

The resolution, he said, repeals the 2002 authorisation of force for the invasion of Iraq and limits this new authorisation to three years.

“I do not believe America's interests are served by endless war, or by remaining on a perpetual war footing. As a nation, we need to ask the difficult and necessary questions about when, why and how we use military force,” he said.

“After all, it is our troops who bear the costs of our decisions, and we owe them a clear strategy and the support they need to get the job done. So this resolution will give our armed forces and our coalition the continuity we need for the next three years,” he added.