By Bill O'Reilly
New "Wall Street Journal"/NBC News poll says just 28 percent of Americans are confident President Obama will be able to defeat the ISIS terror threat, 28 percent; 68 percent have their doubts.
The reason Americans are tentative about their Commander-in-Chief is that he has not been assertive in using U.S. power and indeed seems to be somewhat ashamed of it. But now with weekly beheadings by ISIS, the reluctant warrior must wage war but not total war -- tepid war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are not looking to put troops on the ground. There are troops on the ground that don't belong to us -- they are called Syrian. The Syrian opposition is on the ground. And one of the regrettable things is, it has been fighting ISIL by itself over the course of the last couple of years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: And why has it been fighting ISIS, ISIL -- whatever you want to call it by itself, Mr. Kerry? Why? Well because your boss would not help them out, overruling most of his foreign policy advisors including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"Talking Points" wonders whether John Kerry understands he just put his boss in a bad place. Anyway, even the national media now understands the President's war plan is folly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK TODD, NBC NEWS: There is not a single military advisor that has come to you guys and said you can defeat ISIS without some combat troop and ISIS in Syria without some combat troops.
DENIS MCDONOUGH, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: That's correct.
TODD: Right I mean that's a fact.
MCDONOUGH: That's a fact and that's the President's view and that's why what we need Congress to do right now, and frankly we are seeing very good progress on this thanks to the Speaker and to others, is to put together support for what the President has called Title 10 program to train and equip the Syrian opposition on the ground fighting ISIL.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Swell. But here is the truth. The Syrian opposition is not going to defeat ISIS or Assad or anyone else. They are far too weak and disorganized to be an effective fighting force no matter what we do.
Again, everybody in the international arena knows that. So why are we playing this game? Why? The answer to that question is complicated and rooted in fear. President Obama does not want a wide war on terrorism that consumes his entire administration. He wants small ball, isolated attacks on the evil doers. But with the dramatic rise of the ISIS Nazis, that strategy is not enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL MICHAEL HAYDEN (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE: Look. People don't question American power. What people need to be convinced of is American will.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And so what do you think should be done? It sounds to me like you are saying we should be sending U.S. ground troops.
HAYDEN: I don't think we should have arbitrary limits on how we use the forces we send there. Look, no one is picturing U.S. brigade combat teams maneuvering in the Western Iraqi desert. But we do need to have a presence on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Of course that's what we need. But, again, President Obama doesn't want to put Americans in harm's way. It goes against his liberal belief system. So he wants to form a big anti-terror coalition. Team up with countries all over the world to get ISIS and other Islamic terror organizations. Only Mr. Obama does not like to use the word "Islamic".
Ok. So let's take a look at the proposed coalition. Australia, as usual, has stepped up with troops and planes. What a great ally that country is. Great Britain talks a great game but even though ISIS beheaded a British subject over the weekend, Prime Minister Cameron isn't really committing much to the fight. Maybe that will change.
France, if can you believe it, is doing more than Britain, saying it will take part in bombing raids against ISIS. France has also defeated Islamic terror threats in Africa. So way to go, Paris.
Germany as usual, not doing much. They sit back and let the U.S.A. and others do the hard work of protecting innocent people. Germany is a very selfish country.
Italy says it will help out a bit. All they can do.
Canada, not really committed. They might help out a little -- maybe.
In the Muslim world Turkey once again turns against their NATO allies. That country could cripple ISIS because supplies to the terror group flow through Turkey. Also Turkish air bases are very close. They border Syria. But the Turks fear the jihadists because so many of those nuts are living in that country. Behind the scenes Turkey might help out but quietly.
Egypt will help a little for all the money we send their military.
Saudi Arabia says the Syrians can train on its soil.
Jordan, Lebanon and other small Muslim countries will do a little.
Qatar remains quite the problem -- terror funding going through that little place. It says it's a friend to America but the money says differently. President Obama should crack down on Qatar fast.
So you can see that any big coalition movement is a pipe dream. We are living in a cowardly world and that's why ISIS, al Qaeda, other Islamic killers get away with what they do. The sad truth is and has been that only the United States can lead a fight against evil.
Russia and China, they have power but neither nation is interested in righting wrongs or protecting innocent people. They want more power, money, and a tight hold over their own citizens.
ISIS, they couldn't care less. If President Obama really wants to protect Americans and defeat ISIS, if he really wants to do it, he himself must become a much stronger presence. He's wishy-washy up there. Patton and U.S. Grant are rolling over. He is dispassionate. Much too nuanced. Not fully engaged.
Few nations will follow a leader who tells the enemy what he won't do. And whose record of retreat dominates his resume. We need a presidential commitment to kill terrorists wherever they may be. To do that, President Obama and Congress should pass a declaration of war -- a declaration of war against Islamic terrorists. We have to have an official document that says "Here we come."
But we don't invade, we don't nation build or arm corrupt ineffective fighting forces. We fight smart, taking help from the nations that are willing to give it and bringing the fight to the enemy in a variety of ways. Few American politicians would oppose a declaration of war for fear of their own careers. So let's get rolling. Or do we need a few more beheadings?
And that's "The Memo".
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