The Pentagon’s said it. The White House eventually admitted it. After his initial denial, even the secretary of state reluctantly conceded as much. But boy, it’s still like pulling teeth to get John Kerry to say that America is at war with the Islamic State.
After a contentious Wednesday Senate hearing on the U.S.’s military actions in Iraq, Kerry was back before Congress on Thursday, this time to take questions from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
“Mr. Secretary, one final question,” Representative Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) asked. “Yes or no, is America at war?”
“Well, you know — I’m gonna answer that, Mr. Chairman” said Kerry, pausing for several seconds. “But I’m not gonna — you know — a lot of people are debating this idea of what do you call it, do you call it war, don’t you call it war.”
The secretary of state went on to explain that it’s certainly not a war “like Iraq,” with massive troop movements and thousands of air strikes. “But if you care about what you call it, it is a war similar to what we did with al-Qaeda, and terror — and sure,” he grudgingly admitted.
“What I care about is not what we call it, I care about what we do,” Kerry said. “And I care about making sure we defeat ISIL. And if you’re more comfortable calling it a war against this enemy of Islam, then please do so. We’re happy to call it that. I think it’s much more important to focus on how we’re going to do it.”
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