U.S. says prepared for military solution against Islamic State in Syria

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:27am EST

U.S. says prepared for military solution against Islamic State in Syria

ISTANBUL | BY DAVID DOLAN AND ASLI KANDEMIR

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Syria if a political settlement was not possible, amid uncertainty over scheduled peace talks.

The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva but were at risk of being delayed partly because of a dispute over who will comprise the opposition delegation.

"We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared ..., if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation in taking out Daesh," Biden said at a news conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Daesh is the pejorative Arabic acronym for Islamic State insurgents who hold parts of Syria.

A U.S. official clarified that Biden was talking about a military solution to Islamic State, not Syria as a whole.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-biden-idUSKCN0V10J9

[TwilightGardener]

1. There was never any political solution to ISIS--that's why we've been bombing

them instead of negotiating with them. Have no idea what Joe is babbling about. I think he's confused the issues of Assad and ISIS.

[Cayenne]

2. What he meant was "regime change or else"

ISIS is of minor importance. What is important is that Assad must go damn it.

[bemildred]

3. So good to know Joe hasn't given up on war yet. nt