President Obama convened a meeting of his national security team Wednesday, hours before he will deliver a prime-time address to the nation on his strategy for defeating Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.
The meeting in the highly secure White House situation room included Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, national security adviser Susan E. Rice, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, White House counsel Neil Eggleston, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, presidential counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco and others.
Mr. Obama will speak to the nation at 9 p.m. from the White House on his plans to expand attacks on the militants in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. has carried out more than 150 airstrikes against the terrorist group in Iraq since Aug. 8, and Mr. Obama has said he will attack the group wherever necessary to protect U.S. interests.
His strategy is expected to rely heavily on the Iraqi army and on Syrian rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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