Over the past few months, President Barack Obama has been criticized for limiting military efforts to the benefit of the Islamic State group. Now, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has come forward with claims that U.S. military pilots confirm that around 75 percent of their missions are halted because they can’t get clearance.
Rep. Ed Royce has argued that the Obama administration policy not to strike if there is any risk of collateral damage has likely added to that percentage, and in turn led to growth of ISIS where it could have been stopped.
“You went 12 full months while ISIS was on the march without the U.S. using that air power and now as the pilots come back to talk to us they say three-quarters of our ordnance we can’t drop,” Royce argued.
“We can’t get clearance even when we have a clear target in front of us,” he continued. “I don’t understand this strategy at all because this is what has allowed ISIS the advantage and ability to recruit.”
Army Gen. Jack Keane has also agreed with Royce’s assessment.
“This has been an absurdity from the beginning,” Gen. Keane told reporters. “The president personally made a statement that has driven air power from the inception.”
Keane also claims that when the policies were put in place, military experts explained that though we have “the best capability in the world to protect from civilians casualties” there is always that risk.
“No, you don’t understand,” Obama allegedly demanded. “I want no civilian casualties. Zero.”
What the president fails to understand is that by not taking action, we’re putting more civilians in the hands of ISIS. The attack in Paris alone took 130 innocent lives.
What do you think? Are you tired of Obama limiting the power of our men and women in uniform?z