U.S. President Barack Obama chaired a meeting of a coalition of states fighting Islamic State militants at the United Nations on Tuesday (September 29).
He said the fight against Islamic State overall will not be won on the battlefield alone but also by addressing the political, economic and cultural issues of the regions affected by ISIL.
“Our approach will take time,” Obama said.
“This is not an easy task. We have ISIL taking root in areas that are already suffering from failed governance in some cases, in some cases civil war, or sectarian strife and as a consequence of the vacuum that exists in many of these areas, ISIL has been able to dig in. This is not a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign, not only against this particular network, but against its ideology.”
Obama said some 60 nations have partnered in the effort to destroy Islamic State, including some two dozen states that are also involved in the military campaign against the group.
“In Syria, we have seen support from Turkey that has allowed us to intensify our air campaign there,” he said.
“ISIL has been pushed back from large sections of northeastern Syria, including the key city of Tal Abyad, putting new pressure on its stronghold of Raqqa. And ISIL has been cut off from almost the entire region bordering Turkey, which is a critical step towards stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. Following the special security council meeting I chaired last year, more than 20 additional countries have passed or strengthened laws to disrupt the flow of foreign terrorist fighters.”
The United States, France and allied countries are bombing Islamic State militants, who have exploited power vacuums to seize parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq as part of a stated goal of creating an Islamic caliphate.
Obama reiterated that the fight will long but that the coalition against the insurgents will ultimately prevail.
“Even if we were to wipe out the entire cadre of ISIL leadership, we would still have some of these forces at work,” he said.
“But ultimately I am optimistic. In Iraq and in Syria, ISIL is surrounded by communities, countries and a broad international coalition committed to its destruction. We’ve seen that ISIL can be defeated on the battlefield, where there is sound organization and a government and military that is coordinating with this coalition and with our diplomatic efforts. And here at this summit, we’re seeing a new global movement to counter the violent extremism that ISIL needs to survive. Like terrorists and tyrants throughout history, ISIL will eventually lose, because it has nothing to offer but suffering and death. When you look at the reports of those who are laboring under their control, it is a stark and brutal life that does not appeal to people over the long term. So we will ultimately prevail, because we are guided by a stronger, better vision, a commitment to the security opportunity and dignity of every human being.”
Obama also cautioned that the fight will be a long-term campaign marked by both successes and setbacks.