Biden: Momentum Against ISIS ‘Moving in the Right Direction’
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Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday confidently argued that the momentum against ISIS in Iraq was “moving in the right direction” and that claims from critics did not “reflect the circumstances on the ground.”
“ISIL momentum in Iraq has halted and in many places reversed,” he told students and faculty at the National Defense University at Fort McNair.
“We are pounding ISIL from the sky,” he added.
During his speech, Biden also continued to advocate for strong federalism in the country, a position he has held for years.
“We want what Iraqis want: A united, federal Iraq…Where power is shared by all Iraqis,” he told the decorated members of the U.S. military and foreign diplomats in attendance.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. next week and Biden applauded his work. According the vice president, Abadi has worked hard to create a “functioning federalism,” build an inclusive government, draft a budget and negotiate oil deals.
ISIS intended to tear Iraq apart, Biden said, but “actually united the Iraqis.”
The only laugh in an otherwise somber speech came when Biden joked that he and al-Abadi might have spent more time on the phone with each than their wives.
Biden finished by speaking of the thousands of Americans, including his son, who have spent significant time on Iraqi soil.
“Their blood and toil helped give Iraq another chance,” he said, adding that now was the time to support the Iraqi people and Iraqi government to “make the most of it.”
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