Mouood Mouood English Edition
Former US president George W. Bush has criticized President Barack Obama for his war strategy against ISIL, saying the United States should send combat troops to Iraq.
In an interview with an Israeli newspaper published on Friday, the ex-president said Obama “will have to make that determination.”
“My position was that you need to have boots on the ground,” Bush said.
He also claimed his administration defeated al-Qaeda during his time by sending additional troops to Iraq.
“I think history will show that al-Qaeda in Iraq was defeated,” he said. “I chose the path of boots on the ground. We will see whether or not our government adjusts to the realities on the ground.”
President Obama has been under fire for failure to stop the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.
Earlier this week, Obama told a G7 summit in Germany that “we don’t yet have a complete strategy” against ISIL.
The US president has begun an air campaign against the terror network since last year, but it has not gained any success.
The Obama administration has also sent extra troops to Iraq to “advise” Iraqi forces.
On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement that Obama ordered to send “up to 450 additional military personnel” to Iraq at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
The reinforcements will bring the number of US military forces in Iraq to 3,550.
The Pentagon said the United States has spent more than $2.7 billion on the military campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, averaging more than $9 million a day.
