Clinton says ‘defeat’ Islamic State, don’t contain it

The remarks come after a deadly Islamic State attack in Paris.

“We have to target and defeat and time is of the essence,” Clinton said on Thursday morning in New York City at the Council of Foreign Relations. “ISIS is demonstrating new reach and capabilities we have to break their momentum and bring it back. Our goal is not to contain ISIS, but to defeat it.”

The former secretary of state’s remarks contrast with the president’s previous strategy of containing the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria. The Democratic front-runner insisted that this wouldn’t be enough, as the United States” can’t turn our back on those in need” and must engage in “an immediate war against ISIS.”

In order to combat the terrorist group, she proposed both air raids and ground troops in the Middle East. The United States would not send ground troops, however, but rather train local fighters to secure their own communities, as “we cannot substitute for them.”

Involving Sunni fighters in both Iraq and Syria is key, she explained, but Syrian dictator Bashar Assad is distracting from that fight. His regime has “killed many more Syrians than ISIS.” Thus the United States must “help Syria find new leadership so they can focus on ISIS.”

Finally, Clinton called for increased support from Arab and European forces, including those who “can help with the fight on the ground.” She also called upon Turkey to cease bombing the Kurds and become a full partner with the United States.

“Countries like Jordan have offered more and we should take them up on it, because ultimately our efforts will only succeed if we join the Arabs and Turks in this fight. It’s their fight and they should start acting like it,” Clinton said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, she added, “is making things somewhat worse.” Putin has intervened militarily in Syria.