President Donald Trump gestures as he passes Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson as he leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28,
2017, following his address to a joint session of Congress. (AP
Photo/Alex Brandon) ** FILE **
By Douglas Ernst -
The Washington Times -
Thursday, March 9, 2017
The Trump administration will gather 68 foreign ministers from around
the globe this month to figure out a more efficient strategy for
decimating the Islamic State group.
The
State Department
confirmed Thursday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S.
allies will meet March 22-23 to “accelerate international efforts to
defeat ISIS in the remaining areas it holds in Iraq and Syria and
maximize pressure on its branches, affiliates and networks.” Coalition
forces will also discuss ways to handle the ongoing humanitarian crisis
playing out in Syria and Iraq as a result of the terror group’s presence
in the region.
“It’s an opportunity for Secretary Tillerson to lay out the challenges that are facing the coalition moving forward,” acting
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday, Voice of America
reported.
“We all recognize that we have seen progress in defeating ISIS on the
ground … how do we leverage that success?” he said. “How do we build on
that success?”
The meeting will take place less than one month
after President Trump told a joint session of Congress that he would
take “strong measures to protect our nation from radical Islamic
terrorism.”
“As promised, I directed the Department of Defense to
develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS — a network of lawless
savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women,
and children of all faiths and beliefs,” Mr. Trump said Feb. 28. “We
will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the
Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.”...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/9/trump-administration-to-host-68-nation-meeting-on-/
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Dan Saelinger
© Gordon Rae
