Defense secretary admits force of 60 Syrian trainees 'much smaller than we hoped for at this point'

President Obama’s insistence that “ideologies are not defeated with guns, they’re defeated by better ideas” during a press conference Monday about the war against ISIS is starting to make more sense. At a Senate hearing today, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told lawmakers that the number of Syrian trainees expected to take on the Islamic State is “much smaller than we hoped for at this point.”

How much smaller? The U.S. had hoped to train up to 5,400 fighters a year. So far, it has recruited 60.

U.S. only training 60 Syrian fighters to battle ISIS, far below expectations http://t.co/Fb3G9Nscp8

— CΛNÐICE ?? (@CandiceLanier) July 7, 2015

Shocking admission by @DeptofDefense Ash Carter: US has only trained 60 Syrian fighters vs #ISIS, despite budget of $500 million. @FoxNews

— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) July 7, 2015

Citing strict vetting process Defense Sec'y Ash Carter tells Senate US has trained only 60 Syrian fighters, "much smaller than we hoped for"

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 7, 2015

60 fighters in training? 6-0.

Syria has ~22 million people.

— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) July 7, 2015

https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/status/618481114181726208

Sec Def says US has trained just 60 Syrian fighters since the program was authorized last December. Embarrassing.

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 7, 2015

https://twitter.com/steph93065/status/618542167737286656

@steph93065 60 fighters and superior ideas.

— Dave Rushford (@yooperdave79) July 7, 2015