President Obama gave a strong statement today both remembering executed journalist James Foley and delivering pointed, angry criticism at ISIS. He emphasized the global nature of ISIS’ crimes, saying that “the entire world is appalled” by what they did and labeled them as “terrorists” and a “cancer.”
While he did not outline a specific plan for how (or if) the United States will escalate their military involvement in defeating ISIS, President Obama sought to paint a portrait of “ISIS vs. The World” when describing the militant Islamic group. He was quick to note that the majority of ISIS’ victims are themselves Muslim, and that “ISIS speaks for no religion…no faith teaches people to massacre innocents. No just god would stand for what they did yesterday and what they do every day.”
“A group like ISIS has no place in the 21st century,” he continued, and later he promised that “We will do everything that we can to protect our people.”
With airstrikes likely continuing, it remains to be seen how ISIS will respond and if the United States will further increase its military presence in Iraq.
