Jeb Bush: US must 'tighten the noose' in fight against IS

[webfact]

Jeb Bush: US must 'tighten the noose' in fight against IS
By THOMAS BEAUMONT

CHICAGO (AP) — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday there can be no diplomacy with Islamic State militants, but only a U.S.-led coalition of Middle Eastern countries committed to "tightening the noose and taking them out."

In a wide-ranging speech outlining his vision of America's place in the world, part of the Republican's run-up toward a likely campaign for president in 2016, Bush laid the rise of the Islamic State group at the feet of President Barack Obama. He also made his most overt criticisms to date of his brother's administration, telling the audience of several hundred people, "I am my own man."

"My views are shaped by my own thinking and own experiences," Bush said at an event hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. "Each president learns from those who came before — their principles, their adjustments."

"There were mistakes made in Iraq, for sure," during President George W. Bush's administration, Bush said during a question-and-answer session that followed his 20-minute speech. He said intelligence about Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons of mass destruction was not accurate and the U.S. initially failed to create an environment of security in the country after removing the Iraqi leader from power.

But Bush praised his older brother's decision to "surge" troops into Iraq in 2007, which added roughly 20,000 troops to the American forces in the country in an effort to improve security. He called it "one of the most heroic acts of courage politically" of any president, given the weak support for that strategy in Congress.

Bush raised the criticisms of his brother without prompting, and used them was a way to critique Obama's handling of the Middle East. He said Obama failed to maintain what he called a fragile but stable security situation that his brother left behind in Iraq upon leaving office in 2009.

Had he done so, Obama "would not have allowed the void to be filled" by Islamic State militants who now control large parts of Iraq and Syria. He said there can be no discussions with the group, which has drawn condemnation across the region and the world for carrying out regular acts of violence, often on video, that includes beheadings.

"We have to develop a strategy that's local, that takes them out," Bush said. "There's no talking about this. That's just not going to work for terrorism."

Obama hasn't proposed engaging diplomatically with the Islamic State group, and on Wednesday said those fighting for the group, as well as al-Qaida, are not religious leaders, but terrorists. He has blamed the rise of the Islamic State group on the failings of the Iraqi government, specifically its alienation of minority sects.

A few thousand American troops returned to Iraq last year to help fight the Islamic State group, and the U.S. and several Arab partners — including Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia — began airstrikes against IS militants in September.

During his speech, Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

"The great irony of the Obama presidency is this: Someone who came to office promising greater engagement with the world has left America less influential in the world," Bush said.

Bush acknowledged during the speech that his views will often be compared with those of his brother and father, former President George H.W. Bush, adding he is "lucky" to have had family members who have "shaped America's foreign policy from the Oval Office."

The older Bush brother finished his second term amid an unpopular war in Iraq, with the economy in freefall and with a majority of Americans disapproving of his job performance.

Among donors, Jeb Bush has noted a strong family and religious bond with his older brother, but has also said they are not clones and have differences common among siblings.

Bush promised a resurgent America if a handful of key changes are made by the next president — including new approaches to education, entitlement programs and the U.S.-based energy economy.

"The United States has this potential of being young and dynamic again," he said.

Ahead of the speech, Bush aides released a list of what they called a preliminary group of experts who will provide him with foreign policy advice. They included familiar names, such as James Baker III and George Shultz, both secretaries of state under President Ronald Reagan; and former Homeland Security secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff and former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, all three of whom served under George W. Bush.

The list also included some lesser-known names, such as Meghan O'Sullivan, a former national security adviser to George W. Bush, who now teaches at Harvard and is seen as key to Jeb Bush's idea of lessening U.S. dependence on Middle East energy.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-19

[Dannyboy666]

I Hope Nobody is gonna Support this Tard, Failures of The Bush Family Legacy...

[Ulysses G.]

I'm not Bush fan, but he is right about Obama's failed foreign policy.

Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

[Rykbanlor]

If there was any doubt before, there is none now.

[Credo]

When it comes to failed foreign policies, I would say that the past few Republican administrations have excelled at it.

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Is the world a safer place, probably not, but, hey, if you want to save money, you need to start somewhere and overseas misadventures is one place.

Since everyone seems afraid of ISIS, let's see a few of those stand up and lead the charge, or at least start paying for it.

[daveAustin]

I'd rather see Kate Bush in office, though anything would be better than wet blanket Barry surely.

[Ulysses G.]

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

[umbanda]

He will be the next US President. No doubts about. US Americans loves to live hidden on the Bushes.

Denial is a "comfort zone" not easy to leave.

[yogavnture]

I Hope Nobody is gonna Support this Tard, Failures of The Bush Family Legacy...

pretty much a given now that the lame duck Obama aint and hasn't done squat against isis. hes gonna make the next guy do it. Obama is a wimp

[Credo]

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman. Somebody listened, it was Obama, so now that the world doesn't have a policeman, they are free to elect, nominate, appoint or push someone else into the role. Obama heard about the excessive costs and the bad PR and started to withdraw from the role. Everyone should be happy.

I am pretty sure that if the World wants the US to resume the role, they will not want another Bush calling the shots.

[Dannyboy666]

I Hope Nobody is gonna Support this Tard, Failures of The Bush Family Legacy...

pretty much a given now that the lame duck Obama aint and hasn't done squat against isis. hes gonna make the next guy do it. Obama is a wimp

Yeah , Where would Romnuts have us right now, Sour Grapes, Still

[marko kok prong]

Before Americas tough foreign policy,Iraq was a stable country,as was Libya,albeit under brutal dictators,please some one tell me in what way are they better now?

[dukeandduke]

I'd rather see Kate Bush in office, though anything would be better than wet blanket Barry surely.

Like his predecessor, for example, this guy's brother? Do you think that he was effective?

[dukeandduke]

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman. Somebody listened, it was Obama, so now that the world doesn't have a policeman, they are free to elect, nominate, appoint or push someone else into the role. Obama heard about the excessive costs and the bad PR and started to withdraw from the role. Everyone should be happy.

I am pretty sure that if the World wants the US to resume the role, they will not want another Bush calling the shots.

Exactly. I'd like to hear why anyone thinks this is Obama's responsibility to handle, or wants it to be.

[taff33]

Like the other Bush's a war mongering family.

[elgordo38]

I Hope Nobody is gonna Support this Tard, Failures of The Bush Family Legacy...

Another Bush looking to start a war. All the past Bush wars were expensive disasters. This is just another way of diverting attention away from the real problems America faces. In the past starting a war has always been a great diversion.

[Srikcir]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I'm not Bush fan, but he is right about Obama's failed foreign policy.

Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

USA's "friends" are welcome to solve the issues of ISIL and radical Islamics on their own then. Obama's policy encourages them to do so. But like Iraq, UAE, Eqypt, and Jordon, they know they must have USA backing them to strike back against ISIL both militarily and poltically. Jeb Bush offered no different words than did the rest of the Bush presidents and would only drive the US deeper into a morass of eternal war.

[kieran2698]

I'm not Bush fan, but he is right about Obama's failed foreign policy.

Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

Shame he neglected to mention that Obama merely inherited the mess that Bush's foreign policy created!

[rethaier]

When it comes to failed foreign policies, I would say that the past few Republican administrations have excelled at it.

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Is the world a safer place, probably not, but, hey, if you want to save money, you need to start somewhere and overseas misadventures is one place.

Since everyone seems afraid of ISIS, let's see a few of those stand up and lead the charge, or at least start paying for it.

And after increasing the national debt by trillions of dollars where has he "saved money"?

[Credo]

Before Americas tough foreign policy,Iraq was a stable country,as was Libya,albeit under brutal dictators,please some one tell me in what way are they better now?

They were far from stable countries. These were tightly controlled countries and little information was available to the outside world. To give you an example, the Anfal campaign, which resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of Kurds, was not reported on in the media.

The illusion of peace and the lack of headlines does not equate to stability.

[Ulysses G.]

I'm not Bush fan, but he is right about Obama's failed foreign policy.

Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

Shame he neglected to mention that Obama merely inherited the mess that Bush's foreign policy created!

Obama inherited a mess, that he said he could fix in campaign speeches, and made it MUCH worse. That is what Jeb Bush is referring to..

[BANGKOK WOLF]

Get him in.

IS better watch out he's coming to get you.

The US have pulled out of Europe and I think they will stay in the middle east for the next 50 years keeping the peace.

[ricklev]

Jeez. The republicans destroy America's economy and commit America to senseless wars. The democrats repair the damage. Over and over again.

If you want to live like a republican vote for a democrat.

[yogavnture]

Obama needs to get the middle east countries and Europe to fight these thugs. we americans will go in even steven, but be aint gonna lead the charge. McCain ran as a hawk , noboby bought it. I tend to be a rebublican but I can see how the dems have a point here. let the arabs fight their own fight. Qatar, Saudis, etc. have adequate money and us figher jets do to the job. , yet only after a pilot was burned alive did they act. once all parties , including the Europeans decide we will go into this fight equally do get rid of the thugs. then we can proceed...........so on that front Obama has a good point.

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman. Somebody listened, it was Obama, so now that the world doesn't have a policeman, they are free to elect, nominate, appoint or push someone else into the role. Obama heard about the excessive costs and the bad PR and started to withdraw from the role. Everyone should be happy.

I am pretty sure that if the World wants the US to resume the role, they will not want another Bush calling the shots.

[Ulysses G.]

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman.

The last year? The far left has been trotting that one out for many decades. No one wants the US to be the World Policeman until it suits their needs in some way - then it is fine.

[Chicog]

Jeb's first foreign policy speech was a complete disaster. He made Sarah Palin look worldly wise

Edited February 22, 2015 by Chicog

[Credo]

Jeb's first foreign policy speech was a complete disaster. He made Sarah Palin look worldly wise

Yes, but can he see Cuba from where he lives?

[yogavnture]

anybody can run for pres. Clinton. bush. why pigeon hole jeb with George they are not the same person. my only beef with bush jr. is that he went too gungho. on the thugs. when they did 9/11.........contact your senator in usa and tell them we will help get rid of the thugs. but its time middle eastern countries and Europe do their fair part. (with u.s. fighter jets of course)

Obama needs to get the middle east countries and Europe to fight these thugs. we americans will go in even steven, but be aint gonna lead the charge. McCain ran as a hawk , noboby bought it. I tend to be a rebublican but I can see how the dems have a point here. let the arabs fight their own fight. Qatar, Saudis, etc. have adequate money and us figher jets do to the job. , yet only after a pilot was burned alive did they act. once all parties , including the Europeans decide we will go into this fight equally do get rid of the thugs. then we can proceed...........so on that front Obama has a good point.

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman. Somebody listened, it was Obama, so now that the world doesn't have a policeman, they are free to elect, nominate, appoint or push someone else into the role. Obama heard about the excessive costs and the bad PR and started to withdraw from the role. Everyone should be happy.

I am pretty sure that if the World wants the US to resume the role, they will not want another Bush calling the shots.

[Ulysses G.]

Why do you keep posting the same thing in the same thread? We have been over this already.

Obama was elected on a platform that included getting us out of some of the overseas messes. He has been doing that.

Doing that in a reckless way and causing more. We would have been much better off leaving residual forces in Iraq and not invading Libya after we finally had Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi under control.

Have you not been reading the forum over the past year?

The World doesn't want the US to be the World Policeman.

The last year? The far left has been trotting that one out for many decades. No one wants the US to be the World Policeman until it suits their needs in some way - then it is fine.

[SiSePuede419]

His brother created the ISIS terrorists by invading the wrong country (Saudi Arabia attacked America on 9/11, not Iraq).

Maybe President Jeb will tighten the noose around ISIS---by invading Thailand and creating new Islamic terrorists in the South, funded by his Daddy's Bid'Ness partners?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/george-w-bush-and-the-bin-laden-family-meet-in-new-york-city-one-day-before-911/5332870

Edited February 23, 2015 by SiSePuede419