Defense Secretary Ash Carter expanded on plans to defeat the Islamic State on Wednesday, saying the multi-national coalition must go after the “parent tumor” in Iraq and Syria.
“It won’t be easy,” Carter told members of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. “ISIL is a cancer that’s threatening to spread. And like all cancers, you can’t cure the disease by just cutting out the tumor. You have to eliminate it wherever it has spread, and stop it from coming back.
“Our military campaign accordingly focused on three military objectives: One, destroy the ISIL parent tumor in Iraq and Syria by collapsing its two power centers in Raqqah and Mosul; two, combat the emerging metastases of the ISIL tumor worldwide; and three, protect the homeland.”
Carter said the “parent tumor” has two centers: Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.
“That’s why our campaign plan’s got big arrows pointing at both Mosul and Raqqa,” Carter said, according to his prepared remarks released by the Defense Department. “We will begin by collapsing ISIL’s control over both of these cities and then engage in elimination operations through other territories ISIL holds in Iraq and Syria.”
Carter also divulged that the “specialized expeditionary targeting force” that he announced in December is now in Iraq. The force “is preparing to work with the Iraqis to begin going after ISIL’s fighters and commanders, killing or capturing them wherever we find them, along with other key targets.”
Next week, the defense secretary plans to meet with his counterparts from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. “Each of these nations has a significant stake in completing the destruction of this evil organization, and we must include all of the capabilities they can bring to the field,” he said. “And I will not hesitate to engage and challenge current and prospective members of the coalition as we go forward.”
At the beginning of his remarks to the troops, who are preparing to deploy to Iraq, Carter said it was “good news” that 10 Navy sailors detained by Iran had been released.
“I am very pleased that this was resolved quickly, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Secretary Kerry for his efforts and to reaffirm to you that our highest commitment is to the safety of all of you,” he said. “Wherever we may ask you to go, the country will never leave you behind.”
