Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “truly represents a whole new phase in the war on terrorism.”
“We are dealing with enemy that is well funded, an enemy that has strong command and control and an enemy is well armed,” Panetta stressed Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “They have to be met tooth and nail with everything we’ve got.”
{mosads}He backed President Obama’s strategy with dealing with the growing terror group, adding that it will be crucial to develop strong intelligence, and build alliances that will help the U.S. in Iraq and other countries to fight ISIS.
Panetta admitted however, that Obama probably should have sent his war powers request to Congress six months ago.
Still, Panetta said, the “biggest national security threat to the U.S. is the dysfunction in Congress.”
He expressed strong confidence in the president’s ability to get Congress behind the war powers request, and that it will be passed.