Here are five things to watch for tonight in President Obama’s primetime speech on confronting the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
1. Resolve
The president announced airstrikes against the militant group a the beginning of August. Now, a month later, he’s prepared to up the ante and possibly even take the fight across the Syrian border.
That would be a big move, part of the broader stated goal of “degrading and ultimately destroying” the Islamic State.
2. Response to criticism
This is part of the president’s response to a chorus of critics who don’t think he’s done enough to address the threat.
The catch-22 is, regardless of how the president responds, it could be a no win game. Obama will still face criticism (even from some within his own party) if he takes military action without congressional approval.
3. Reassurance
Several polls released this week (MSNBC, CNN, Washington Post) show widespread concern and strong support for hitting the Islamic State hard.
That’s why the president is speaking in prime time at 9 o’clock on a Wednesday. He wants to come into America’s living room and try to reassure people across the country that there is a strategy in place.
4. Reflection
Of course, this all comes with some reflection and sadness after the executions of two American journalists by the Islamic State.
The president pledged justice for James Foley and Steven Sotloff after both men were brutally killed last month; you can expect him to reiterate that pledge tonight.
5. Reality
Let’s be clear: this isn’t going to happen overnight, and the president knows that.
His plan — whatever it is and however it’s implemented — will take time, and that’s really what tonight is about. Almost 13 years to the day after September 11th, 2001, America is about to take on another dangerous extremist threat.
