US, ‘ NO STRATEGY FOR THE ISLAMIC STATE’.. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Was it just an outburst of honesty yesterday?

Was it an example of not being prepared?

Was it a “slip of the tongue”?

Was it a feint… a trick… .a ploy?

Only a chosen few will really know, but I can tell you what it was to the rest of the world.

Another gigantic perception event!

It didn’t take the world media thirty minutes to pounce on the comment by the US President.

As a matter of fact, as I was watching him give the speech, I told the person next to me, “that won’t take long”!

Back.

Back to the reality of world media, social media and 24/7/365, global coverage and how governance simply cannot come to terms with how to shape their messages.

So, now this morning in DC, the administration is running one main effort and that effort is not building a “Strategy” for IS.

It’s “damage control”!!!

Here is the problem with “damage control” in the world of social media.

It takes a great deal of effort, time and money, to fix Administration perception issues.

The reality is, they often don’t get ‘fixed”!

So, as the US administration runs damage control today, let me take a shot at how  this statement was perceived in the Region.

GCC:

“Uncommitted”, and uncommitted only strengthens their internal belief that US is no longer able or willing to control the region….as if it ever was!!!!

Islamic State Leadership:

No resolve! 

“The West / US / has no stomach for fighting us”.

Once again the “redline” theory goes out the window.

Iran:

“Got them right where we want them…. Still desperate for a nuclear ‘deal’, and willing to do our dirty work against a force we helped create… the Islamic Sate”!

The Tsar:

“ I’m not sure what they are doing and nether or they, so I’m pushing forward with my ‘Master Plan…. Keep sending the vacationing troops to the Ukraine”!!!!

Egypt’s Sisi:

“What?  They want our help again?  Hell, we are still trying to control the Hamas / Israeli issue and the US, who didn’t support me, wants me in another ‘coalition’? Tell them we are a little tied up right now, but we will get back with them soon”!

Turkey’s Egodan:

“ Let me see if I understand this correctly.  You support the Kurds. You won’t attack Assad. Now you are going to unwillingly  help Assad??????  What part of this am I supposed to agree with and oh by the way…..what’s in it for me”?

So, you see………… a slip of the tongue… a misguided statement in the world of live coverage and the entire concept of what is taking place changes.

And as for the United States Department of State…….” This is the story of a sailing ship… and a three hour tour… a three hour tour”….. ( Insert theme song here).