Speech - President Obama

Screenshot of CNN video.

SMELL Check

Source – President Obama only cited one source in his September 9th speech about ISIL/ISIS. The bulk of his speech concerns his strategy to combat ISIL/ISIS. In the rest of the speech he speaks about accomplishments his presidency has made in the war, as well as here in America. Yet he doesn’t use any factual statistics, or outside sources to verify his points. His one citable source is a Middle Eastern citizen he claims to have saved.
“When we helped prevent the massacre of civilians trapped on a distant mountain, here's what one of them said,"We owe our American friends our lives. Our children will always remember that there was someone who felt our struggle and made a long journey to protect innocent people."(Obama, 2014)
Motive— President Obama issued this speech to educate the American people on ISIL/ISIS as well as communicate his plan of action against ISIL/ISIS. He gave a four step strategy that he will use to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group”. He then uses the later part of his speech to show America his presidencies successes in the War on Terror. He finishes his speech by providing examples of achievements in American resilience as well as leadership.
Evidence – Throughout the speech President Obama uses a lot of brief, yet important, evidence to support his points. He talks about ISIL/ISIS’s goals and how they are implementing them. How American Air support is supporting Kurdish ground forces. America’s prominent role in foreign affairs and support through diplomacy. Gives examples of America’s technological advances, and finishes with more examples of American leadership worldwide.
Logic— President Obama used examples of victories in the War on Terror during his Presidency in a powerful way. Using those examples he illustrated that he is more than capable of handling terrorist groups like ISIL/ISIS. It was also a good idea to explain his four step strategy in the way he did, finishing with a brief explanation on how this conflict will be carried out differently than that of the more unpopular Iraqi, and Afghanistan wars.
Left Out— It would have helped President Obama’s creditability if he had use more sources, instead of one unknown and uncreditable source.
 
 

President Obamas speech Fact Check

Fact #1: President Obama - “Now let's make two things clear: ISIL is not "Islamic." No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim. And ISIL is certainly not a state. It was formerly al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq, and has taken advantage of sectarian strife and Syria's civil war to gain territory on both sides of the Iraq-Syrian border. It is recognized by no government, nor the people it subjugates. ISIL is a terrorist organization, pure and simple. And it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way.” (Obama, 2014)
Mostly True – In this portion of president Obama’s speech he states that ISIL is not “Islamic”. President Obama is simply being politically correct. Below is article defining ISIL or ISIS, their religion beliefs, as well as their overall goal.
“In Arabic, the group is known as Al-Dawla Al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham, or the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. The term “al-Sham” refers to a region stretching from southern Turkey through Syria to Egypt (also including Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan)…. The standard English term for this territory is “the Levant”, which is broadly why Mr Obama and Mr Cameron use the acronym “ISIL”.”The group is supremely dominated by, "Sunni" Islam: "Sunni" and "Shia" who represent the two main denominations of the religion, with the vast majority—almost 90 per cent—being Sunni. Both sects share many beliefs and practices but their differences have long been a source of conflict. The overall goal of the extremist group is to create a fundamental Islamic state.” (Lock, 2014)
“The group’s stated goal is to restore an Islamic state, or caliphate, in this entire area [area stretching from Egypt to Turkey].” (Lock, 2014)
In essence ISIL is Islamic, based on their goals, and fundamental values. It does have a clear vision and goal, to create a fundamental Islamic state in the territory they continue to fight for. Yet the president’s view did correctly state that ISIL is not recognized by Islam, because Islam does not condone killing. Here is what a few passages from the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, state in context of killing.
“The fifth Greater Sin is the murder of that person whose execution has not been ordered by Allah (S.w.T.) and the Holy Prophet (S). Traditions which confirm that murder is a Greater Sin have already been mentioned at the beginning. Moreover the verses of the Holy Qur’an mention clearly the Divine punishment for the murderers. “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement.” (Surah an-Nisā’ 4:93). Five types of punishments have been ordained for those who kill the believers. First, Hell; Second, Eternal abode in Hell; Third, involvement in the Divine wrath; Fourth, being the accursed by Allah (S.w.T.); Fifth, the Great Chastisement. (“Fifth Greater Sin”, n.d.)
President Obama was mostly true, being that he was using politically correct language in his speech he contradicted himself in the beginning of his point. As he continued to explain himself in the later part of his point, he showed that what he meant was, while ISIL/ISIS claims to be Islamic freedom fighters, they are not recognized by any religion based on their actions towards their victims. 
 
 

Fact #2: President Obama – “[Discussing American involvement in ISIS/ISIL conflict] It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.” (Obama, 2014)
True – President Obama has kept true to his remarks in his September 9th speech. No American Combat personnel have been inserted into Syria or Iraq to this date. He has remained true to this statement throughout the conflict in Syria and continued to be true to his statement up to this date. Obama echoed this point in a 2013 speech,
"… I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria — American boots on the ground in Syria — would be good for America but would also be good for Syria (Madhani, 2013).
The role of the United States in the ISIL/ISIS conflict has been limited to coalition airstrikes in aid of Kurdish ground forces. Coalition Airstrikes began in late August of 2015.
“U.S. Central Command has conducted a total of 190 airstrikes across Iraq in the battle against ISIL forces. The decision to begin the airstrikes in Syria was made earlier today by Centcom Commander Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the admiral said. The strikes are being made under authorization granted by the commander in chief, President Barack Obama, as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.” (Roulo, 2014)
The United States is also planning to send in a large training and supporting force to Syria in order to train “moderate” Syrian forces sometime in spring of 2015.
“The Pentagon will deploy more than 400 U.S. military trainers and hundreds more supporting personnel to four training sites in three countries as early as March as part of a long-awaited plan to help rebel forces to stabilize Syria.” (Lubold, 2015).
Despite heavy opposition from Obama’s critics including Senator Graham,
“Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is considering a 2016 presidential bid, said on Sunday it would require 10,000 American "boots on the ground" to stop the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria. Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria won't destroy the group, but do help in some regard, Graham said on CBS's "Face the Nation."(Wong, 2015).
As well as, Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who also opposes Obama’s plan,
“If the goal is to destroy ISIS, as the president says it is, I don’t believe the strategy that he outlined will accomplish that,” Boehner told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview for ABC News in Portland, Maine, this week. “At the end of the day, I think it’s going to take more than air strikes to drive them out of there. At some point somebody’s boots have to be on the ground.”  (Parkinson, 2014).
President Obama has held firm that no American combat troops will be on the ground in Syria or Iraq. He feels that American combat personal should not be placed into the conflict on the ground, but that American personal should assist in helping to dismantle and destroy this international threat.
 
 

Fact #3: President Obama – “It is America that helped remove and destroy Syria's declared chemical weapons so they cannot pose a threat to the Syrian people -- or the world – again” (Obama, 2014)
Mostly True – The United States did play an important role in the destruction of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons. A deal was brokered between Russia, The United States, and Syria for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. The process began in early January 2014.
“Syria has started moving chemical weapons materials out of the country in a crucial phase of an internationally backed disarmament program that has been delayed by war and technical problems. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday that "priority chemical materials" were transported to the port of Latakia and onto a Danish vessel that is now sailing toward international waters.”("Syria Begins Chemical Weapon Removal," 2014)
This process of disarming the Syrian Government continued until the United States government announced on August 18th 2014. The original proposed end day of December 31st 2014, was passed because of a number of problems that arose.
“War, bad weather, bureaucracy and technical issues meant a Dec. 31 deadline passed for the removal of the most deadly toxins from Syria.” ("Syria Begins Chemical Weapon Removal,” 2014)
The process of destroying the chemical weapon stockpile was completed on August 18, 2014, when President Obama and the White House released this press release,
“Today we mark an important achievement in our ongoing effort to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction by eliminating Syria’s declared chemical weapons stockpile. The most lethal declared chemical weapons possessed by the Syrian regime were destroyed by dedicated U.S. civilian and military professionals using a unique American capability aboard the M/V Cape Ray – and they did so aboard that U.S. vessel several weeks ahead of schedule.” (Office of the Press Secretary, 2014)
Yet there is an ongoing attempt to destroy Syria’s Chemical weapon production facilities that remain operational. Although, Syria has begun the long delayed destruction of its chemical weapon facilities in early January of 2015.
“Syria still faces a mandate to destroy its chemical weapons production facilities. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons recently reported the use of chlorine gas in areas where opposition to the government remains strong.” (Rappeport, 2014)
“Syria has started the long-delayed destruction of a dozen underground bunkers and hangars that were used for the production and storage of chemical weapons on Monday [January 19th, 2014].”  (“Deutsch, 2015)
While it is true that the United States did play an important role in implementing and fulfilling the goal of destroying Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile. Obama’s speech was pre-emptive, because while Syria no longer possesses their previous stockpile, they still possess an operational chemical weapon production facilities.
 
 
Fact #4: President Obama - “In a region that has known so much bloodshed, these terrorists are unique in their brutality. They execute captured prisoners. They kill children. They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage. They threatened a religious minority with genocide. In acts of barbarism, they took the lives of two American journalists -- Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff.”
True – ISIS/ISIL is known worldwide because of their torture and killing of innocent lives. They have shown no mercy and continue to brutally slaughter any opposition to their cause. They murder anyone from military opposition to civilians, including woman and children. A UN report released in 2014, has shocking statistics about the amount of civilians killed.
“The UN mission to Iraq says at least 5,576 civilians were killed and another 11,665 wounded from 1 January until the end of June. Another 1.2 million have been driven from their homes by the violence, it adds. The pace of civilian deaths over the first six months marked a sharp increase over the previous year. In all of 2013, the UN reported just over 7,800 civilians killed, which was the highest annual death toll in years. The fighting "has inflicted untold hardship and suffering on the civilian population with large-scale killings, injuries, and destruction and damage of livelihoods and property", the UN report says.”(“Iraqi civilian death toll…,” 2014).
              ISIS/ISIL usually slaughters their victims in mass shootings or executions and then publishes the images of their gruesome deaths on the internet. In one instance, ISIS/ISIL claims to have executed 1,700 Iraqi soldiers.
“In a series of tweets and shocking photos posted to their social-media sites, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is boasting to have slaughtered 1,700 Iraqi soldiers.” (Baker, 2014).
              The terrorist organization captures these prisoners and shows them no mercy. In another mass execution, 250 Syria army personnel were marched through the desert naked while being forced to chant, “Islamic State, it shall remain”.  In other instances of brutality, individual captives are executed in different more horrific ways. American Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff were both decapitated in videos released by ISIS. Their executions do not just apply to the United States, ISIS have also executed two Japanese hostages as well. In a more recent video released by the Islamic State, it displays a captive, Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, being burned alive. This is the most vicious execution to date. This organization is merciless and brutal in their actions and will continue their mass executions until they are destroyed.


 

Bibliography

Baker, A. (2014, June 15). ISIS Claims Massacre of 1,700 Iraqi Soldiers. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://time.com/2878718/isis-claims-massacre-of-1700-iraqis/
Deutsch, A. (2015, January 19). Exclusive: Syria begins destruction of chemical weapons facilities. Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/19/us-syria-crisis-chemicalweapons-idUSKBN0KS1GY20150119
“Fifth Greater Sin: Murder.” (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.al-islam.org/greater-sins-volume-1-ayatullah-sayyid-abd-al-husayn-dastghayb-shirazi/fifth-greater-sin-murder

Iraqi civilian death toll passes 5,500 in wake of Isis offensive. (2014, July 18). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/iraqi-civilian-death-toll-5500-2014-isis
Lock, H. (2014, September 14). Isis vs Isil vs Islamic State. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-vs-isil-vs-islamic-state--what-is-in-a-name-9731894.html
Lubold, G. (2015, January 15). US To Send 400 Trainers and Hundreds More Troops for Syrian Train-and-Equip Mission. Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/01/us-send-400-trainers-and-hundreds-more-troops-syrian-train-and-equip-mission/103068/
Madhani, A. (2013, May 4). Obama doesn't foresee U.S. boots on the ground in Syria. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/03/obama-troops-on-the-ground-syria/2134293/.
Obama, B. (2014, September 10). Transcript: President Obama's Speech on Combating ISIS and Terrorism. Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/10/politics/transcript-obama-syria-isis-speech/index.html
Parkinson, J. (2014, September 28). Does John Boehner Believe American Boots on Ground Needed to Defeat the Islamic State? Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/09/does-john-boehner-believe-american-boots-on-ground-needed-to-defeat-islamic-state/
Office of the Press Secretary. (2014, April 18). Statement by the President on the Completion by the M/V Cape Ray of the Destruction of Syria's Declared Chemical Weapons. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/18/statement-president-completion-mv-cape-ray-destruction-syria-s-declared-
Rappeport, A. (2014, August 18). Syria’s Chemical Arsenal Fully Destroyed, U.S. Says. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/world/middleeast/syrias-chemical-arsenal-fully-destroyed-us-says.html?_r=1
Roulo, Claudette. "U.S. Begins Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria." Defense.gov. Department of Defense News, 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 1 Feb. 2015. .
“Syria begins chemical weapon removal.” (2014, January 7). Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/1/7/syria-begins-chemicalweaponsremoval.html
Wong, K. (2015, February 1). Graham: 10K US boots on the ground needed to stop ISIS in Syria. Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://thehill.com/policy/defense/231392-graham-10k-us-boots-on-the-ground-needed-to-stop-isis
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