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05/01/2024 06:00:13 pm

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Hillary Clinton Criticizes Obama's Response to ISIS in Iraq

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. President Barack Obama

(Photo : REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque )

Hillary Clinton joined several other Republicans on Sunday in criticizing United States President Barack Obama's response to the crisis in Iraq and Syria.

In an interview with the Atlantic, Clinton described the administration's plan to not intervene instantly on the Syrian war as a "failure." She explained that the Obama administration failed to help anti-Assad protestors, Islamists and secularists organize a sufficient fighting force.

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"The failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled," Clinton said.

Republicans and other administration critics also blamed Obama for taking too long to step-in and support the Syrians who revolted against President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria has been divided by a civil war which has been raging for three years, with Assad staying in position and the militants amassing more power.

When asked for her opinion on Obama's foreign policy slogan which says "Don't do stupid stuff," Clinton said great nations are built on organizing principles and the said policy does not fall under that description.

The former state secretary affirmed that the reason she thinks the Middle Eastern crisis is a top priority is because the jihadist group could look in to the West to expand their territory.

Meanwhile, New York Rep Peter King urged the Obama administration to provide greater support to the Iraqis who are terrorized by ISIS, saying that the militant group is stronger than Al Qaeda.

In an interview with Meet the Press on Sunday, King said that all he hears are what the government will not and could not do. According to the representative, what he wants to hear is what the government says when the U.S. becomes a victim of an ISIS attack.

King also questioned Obama's leadership strategy when the president decided on doing airstrikes and nothing more. He said the U.S. should not only launch massive air strikes but also send U.S. combat troops to Iraq and Syria and set-up a base for a more continuous attack.

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