Oh, it can get worse.
On September 10, 2014, President Obama gave a speech on terrorism and what he was planning to do to counter the growing threat to the U.S. from ISIS. And one of the examples he gave in the speech as a model of success was Yemen, site of two suicide car bombings earlier today that killed at least 15 schoolchildren.
From the White House transcript (emphasis ours):
Now, it will take time to eradicate a cancer like ISIL. And any time we take military action, there are risks involved –- especially to the servicemen and women who carry out these missions. But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years. And it is consistent with the approach I outlined earlier this year: to use force against anyone who threatens America’s core interests, but to mobilize partners wherever possible to address broader challenges to international order.
Oops.
But who could have predicted on 9/10 that Yemen would be anything but a success?
We’re being sarcastic, of course:
Unlike impuissant Obama, the relentless, bloodthirsty jihadists never rest==> http://t.co/SWz2kT1aMK pic.twitter.com/ODo5aO3XDH
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 10, 2014
Flashback in preparation for Obama's ISIS speech: Why "Kumbaya" can't fight terror" ==> http://t.co/qtkGDkgfIq
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 10, 2014
Obama will say Tonight:
Yemen and Somalia Are Models of Success (?) http://t.co/6GeKze4HVn pic.twitter.com/IOWb2yiB14— Tom T. ن®?? (@VRWCTexan) September 10, 2014
https://twitter.com/kesgardner/status/509847831142625280
Obama still hasn't given speech,can't White House just pretend release of excerpts sent in error&delete Yemen/Somalia 'success' reference?
— Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi) September 10, 2014
https://twitter.com/passantino/status/509845285657255936
IntelCenter reacting to Obama #ISIS speech excerpts: "Yemen and Somalia far from success model for #Iraq and #Syria." http://t.co/TYPWLeqBC2
— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) September 10, 2014
Of all the parts of what is probably going to be long Obama speech,surprised White House release excerpt on Yemen&Somalia as 'success-story'
— Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi) September 10, 2014
https://twitter.com/hboulware/status/509837454384168960
https://twitter.com/astaroska/status/509835120858374144
That excerpt of Obama's speech on ISIS I retweeted isn't bad, but we have to stop calling the Yemen & Somalia models a success. They aren't.
— NicGHOULas Slayton (@NSlayton) September 10, 2014
Exit question: If Yemen really was a success as claimed by the president, does this mean the president’s policies are now failing?
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Related:
Heads up: BBC announces US Special Forces headed to Yemen
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