Obama must keep pressure on Islamic State

President Barack Obama promised he would change America, and indeed in many ways he has. And in still more ways, if the courts allow.

But for four major initiatives, he has exuded particular passion. He has brought reform to health care. With the aid of federal funding, insurance coverage has become attainable for millions of those without.

For others, new regulations have been put in place to provide direction in selecting their plans.

He is on his way toward leading the world in the reduction of carbon-dioxide that is overheating our planet and, as he says, is an immediate risk to our national security.

He is very close to a deal with Iran, the sponsor of regional aggression and terrorism, that will ostensibly forestall its production of nuclear weapons, after which, he says, it can rejoin the family of nations.

He has ended President George W. Bush’s war in Iraq, is bringing the war in Afghanistan to closure, and is refusing to re-engage on the Iraq/Syria battlefield. That battlefield is now commanded by Islamic State, the successor to al Qaeda.

Presently it occupies nearly 81,000 square miles, and it is becoming stronger by the day.

It is effectively using social media to recruit tens of thousands from the Middle East and from the West. Those who sympathize but cannot travel are urged to strike out against the West wherever they can.

Islamic State has billions in financial resources, is sophisticated in its use of weaponry, is agile in its manpower deployment and is ruthless, with no regard for human life.

None doubt that, as it has more time to consolidate, its targets will be in Europe and in the United States. There already are indications that it has chlorine gas in its arsenal, and with its resources it likely will be just a matter of time until it fulfills the boast in its publication, Dabiq, and becomes a nuclear terrorist state.

Obama said last September that he will destroy Islamic State. Subsequently he has said that it will be a multiyear campaign.

His military effort has been halfhearted.

Obama seemingly is marking time until his successor arrives to take over the burden. WILLIAM P. WEISS

Columbus