Trump says may declare Islamic State defeated next week

By Lesley Wroughton and Jeff Mason

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a gathering of foreign ministers aligned toward the defeat of Islamic State at the State Department in Washington, U.S., February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he expected a formal announcement as early as next week that the coalition fighting Islamic State militants has reclaimed all of the territory previously held by the extremist group.

 

"Their land is gone. It's a big factor - their land is gone," Trump told foreign ministers and other senior officials from 79 countries that have worked alongside the United States in fighting the militant group in Syria and Iraq.

 

Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria has prompted some criticism at home from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who fear Islamic State could regain its strength.

 

A top U.S. Army general for the region, Joseph Votel, said in Senate testimony on Tuesday that the group could experience a resurgence after a U.S. pullout.

 

Trump did not back down from his determination to withdraw, saying, "We look forward to giving our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home."

 

"The United States military, our coalition partners and the Syrian Democratic Forces have liberated virtually all of the territory previously held by ISIS in Syria and Iraq," Trump told the gathering at the State Department.

 

He said the achievement "should be formally announced, sometime, probably next week, that we will have 100 percent of the caliphate."

 

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reassured the coalition partners that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria was not "the end of America's fight" and called on them to help permanently defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

 

"The U.S. troops withdrawing from Syria is not the end of America's fight. The fight is one we will continue to wage alongside you," Pompeo said. "The drawdown in troops is essentially a tactical change, it is not a change in the mission. It simply represents a new stage in an old fight."

 

Warnings by Pompeo and others that Islamic State remained a dangerous threat fly in the face ofTrump's December declaration that the militants had been defeated and the United States would withdraw its roughly 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria.

 

The president's sudden decision shocked coalition partners, including an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias that has been among the most effective against Islamic State, and prompted the abrupt resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

 

Wednesday's meeting was the first of senior coalition officials since Trump announced U.S. troops would withdraw. Participants included foreign ministers from Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco and Iraq.

 

Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Hakim called on countries to help expose Islamic State "sleeper cells" in Iraq and restore stability.

 

Pompeo said despite progress in fighting Islamic State in Iraq, the group retained a strong presence in that country and was trying to mount a clandestine insurgency.

 

"The coalition must continue to support the government of Iraq in its efforts to secure the liberated areas of that country," Pompeo said. "Mr. Foreign Minister, we're with you," he told Hakim.

 

Earlier this week, Trump said it was important to keep a U.S. military presence in Iraq so that Washington could keep a close eye on Iran, according to a CBS interview aired on Sunday.

 

However, Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Monday that Trump did not ask Iraq's permission for U.S. troops stationed there to "watch Iran." The United States and Iran are Iraq's two biggest allies.

 

On Wednesday, Hakim, apparently responding to Trump's comment, called on countries to show full "respect for the territorial integrity of Iraq and for all operations to take place with the knowledge of Iraq, and in consultations with Iraqi security forces."

 

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Jeff Mason; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-07

"...[Trump] said the achievement "should be formally announced, sometime, probably next week, that we will have 100 percent of the caliphate..."

 

Or...

 

"Mission Accomplished!"

 

You would think that they would learn...

 

 

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

Pompeo said. "Mr. Foreign Minister, we're with you," he told Hakim.

 

Well, our boys n girls are with you.

Me and Mr T will be squirreled away in our offices, at least 6000 miles from the action  !!

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

who fear Islamic State could regain its strength.

these are extremists, far from gone; all the roots of their extremism are still there

What a joke. Even his generals stated that they were not consulted.

Who in their right mind would listen to any "declaration" from this admin without fact-checking?

 

Tomorrow I may declare I have a cure for cancer.

 

Winning again.

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Agree"...[Trump] said the achievement "should be formally announced, sometime, probably next week, that we will have 100 percent of the caliphate..."

 

Or...

 

"Mission Accomplished!"

 

You would think that they would learn...

 

 

Agree, but politicians never learn.

IS is based on a belief, and a belief can't be defeated.

Time for US politicians and military to understand the stupidity of fighting an idea. Yes, you can send in the troops and declare a section of a country is now under your control but you have in no way changed the attitude or ideas of the people who live there. Vietnam showed the U.S. just how useless massive military might can be when the citizens just dont agree with your objectives. Iraq has followed in that all the military power in the world cant make people think how you want them to. The minute your military no longer stands on the ground and defends it with guns the locals will come back to continue whatever it was they were doing before you came. There is no better proof of that than what is happening in Afghanistan at the moment. 

Irak was the very first mistake, then Lybia, and last Syria, and among those mistakes before, in the middle and after, there have been many more. Im talking about the 2100 century, and not previous humungus mistakes and miscalculations. 

 

In the end we can blaim Alexander who was the first world concuer

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Irak was the very first mistake, then Lybia, and last Syria, and among those mistakes before, in the middle and after, there have been many more. Im talking about the 2100 century, and not previous humungus mistakes and miscalculations. 

 

In the end we can blaim Alexander who was the first world concuer

Been the same since mankind first came out of the cave and built houses. The strongest and baddest wanted the biggest and best house, and so started the rule of the strong over the weak. Still continues today, just with better means of killing each other. Sad, but it's in the genes.

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Been the same since mankind first came out of the cave and built houses. The strongest and baddest wanted the biggest and best house, and so started the rule of the strong over the weak. Still continues today, just with better means of killing each other. Sad, but it's in the genes.

It's a nice sounding talking point but not true. Prehistoric societies created civilization though cooperation in agrarian groups, eschewing petty tribalism for the security and benefits of working together (and producing grain for food and beer!!).

Always been fighting for land and resourches. The more cold and harsh clima, the more important to collect more and more and preserve for future and  next generations. 

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Agree, but politicians never learn.

IS is based on a belief, and a belief can't be defeated.

True, and no wall, border fence or steel slats can stop it. 

Oh I think isis will have something nasty to say about that better tell bone spurs to keep his head down 

47 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

True, and no wall, border fence or steel slats can stop it. 

Israel seems to refute that sentiment. 

Walls work. 

29 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Israel seems to refute that sentiment. 

Walls work. 

Don't forget the wheels.

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

Irak was the very first mistake, then Lybia, and last Syria, and among those mistakes before, in the middle and after, there have been many more. Im talking about the 2100 century, and not previous humungus mistakes and miscalculations. 

 

In the end we can blaim Alexander who was the first world concuer

Yeah, but he won his battles.

29 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Yeah, but he won his battles.

He died 32, so death concured him early. Most plausable cause by poison. 

Wonder if he will say when Islamic State prove they are far from extinct with an attack in the states, "If I had my wall it would not have happened"???

2 hours ago, mikebike said:

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Been the same since mankind first came out of the cave and built houses. The strongest and baddest wanted the biggest and best house, and so started the rule of the strong over the weak. Still continues today, just with better means of killing each other. Sad, but it's in the genes.

It's a nice sounding talking point but not true. Prehistoric societies created civilization though cooperation in agrarian groups, eschewing petty tribalism for the security and benefits of working together (and producing grain for food and beer!!).

..And fighting, killing and enslaving the next tribe for their own benefit..It goes both ways.

ISIS?

Defeated again?

more winning is it? 

winning winning winning, say what?

winning! Yay!

14 minutes ago, farcanell said:

ISIS?

Defeated again?

more winning is it? 

winning winning winning, say what?

winning! Yay!

Yuge winning!  Winning yugely!

8 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

What a joke. Even his generals stated that they were not consulted.

 

Because there's no need....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1JCrE_4BiM

 

On ‎2‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 1:57 PM, mikebike said:

It's a nice sounding talking point but not true. Prehistoric societies created civilization though cooperation in agrarian groups, eschewing petty tribalism for the security and benefits of working together (and producing grain for food and beer!!).

That sound idyllic. Did they all sit around the campfire at night singing Kumbaya?

Soooo, when did the strongest and baddest stuff it all up and decide they wanted to be the big man in town and all the rest should serve him and his?