Even though the battle against Islamic radicalism is no longer making the frontpages, it doesn’t mean that groups like ISIS aren’t still a problem. While their power has been greatly diminished, thanks to Trump’s shift in strategy, the US is still aiding its Middle Eastern allies in the fight against them.
Unlike Obama, Trump has given his generals the latitude needed to fight effectively against ISIS. Because of this, we’re seeing officials publicly take far more stringent stances against radical Islamists, whereas before, uttering those words together was taboo.
As reported at Fox News, the Pentagon’s senior enlisted member has taken a black and white stance against the remaining ISIS fighters: “surrender or die!”
The threatening words came from Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell, who wanted to let the ever-decreasing number of terrorists know that should they refuse to lay down their weapons, there will be no quarter.
“ISIS needs to understand that the Joint Force is on orders to annihilate them,” he wrote in a forceful message on Facebook. “So they have two options, should they decide to come up against the United States, our allies and partners: surrender or die!”
Troxell was sure to let Islamists know that should they surrender, they’ll be provided a cell, a bed, food, and due process, most of which they’re struggling to come by now that their short reign of power is over.
But the Army Sgt. reminded them that going up against the US will mean they’ll never be able to sleep comfortably again.
“However, if they choose not to surrender, then we will kill them with extreme prejudice, whether that be through security force assistance, by dropping bombs on them, shooting them in the face, or beating them to death with our entrenching tools,” Troxell’s post continued. “Regardless, they cannot win, so they need to choose what it’s going to be.”
This isn’t the first time Troxell’s made such public proclamations against ISIS. During a stop in Afghanistan on a United Services Organization holiday tour last month, he gave a fiery speech that said ISIS will be “annihilated, period!”
If Obama were president, Troxell likely would have been reprimanded for posting content to his own Facebook page, but times have changed for the better.
Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for the Joint Staff, said that Troxell’s comments emphasized the US-led coalition’s resolve to defeat ISIS.
“His intent was to communicate the tenacity of the warrior ethos that, even when faced with the brutal and unforgiving nature of combat, will use every resource available to fight and win,” Ryder said of Troxell.
The attitude change is significant, as are the results. This is what happens when you clearly communicate your desired goals and relentlessly pursue them–you send ISIS on the run with its tail tucked between its legs.
Source: Fox News