Obama Vows ‘Long-Term Campaign’ to Destroy IS

United Nations (PNA/Xinhua) — U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated his determination to destroy the Islamic State (IS) group, but acknowledged that it will be a “long-term campaign.”

“We are harnessing all of our tools — military, intelligence, economic, development and the strength of our communities” to combat the extremist group, Obama told a summit at the United Nations on countering the IS and violent extremism.

In Iraq and Syria, the IS, also known as ISIL, is surrounded by communities, countries and a broad international coalition committed to its destruction, Obama said, adding that “we’re seeing a new global movement to counter the violent extremism that ISIL needs to survive.”

But the U.S. president acknowledged that it is “not an easy task” to destroy the IS and the current approach will take time.

“There are going to be successes and there are going to be setbacks,” Obama said. “This is not a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign — not only against this particular network, but against its ideology.”

He also called for renewed effort to stem the radicalizing networks that are attracting recruits to the extremist group.

“It is not going to be enough to defeat ISIL in the battlefield, ” Obama said. “We have to prevent it from radicalizing, recruiting and inspiring others to violence in the first place.” (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/EBP