Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said a “tortured debate going on about terminology” is distracting people from the mission to destroy the Islamic State before it advances farther into Iraq and Syria.
Asked by CBS’ “Face the Nation” whether the country is at war, Mr. Kerry says it depends on the context.
“This is not combat troops on the ground … it’s not that kind of mobilization,” he said, referring to the 2003 invasion under President George W. Bush.
He said the country is “at war with ISIL” — using a common moniker for the Islamic State — in the same way it has been at war with al Qaeda.
“I think it’s a waste of time to focus on that, frankly,” he said of semantics.
He said he’s focused on degrading the Islamic State.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.