Bremer: Bush strategy needed for ISIS

Former U.S. envoy to Iraq Paul Bremer urged President Obama to conduct a “surge” operation in Iraq  — similar to George W. Bush’s — to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“I think he should have a much more vigorous air campaign,” Bremer told radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview airing Sunday on New York’s AM 970 “The Cats Roundtable.”

{mosads}Former President George W. Bush’s top civilian administrator in Iraq during the Iraq War said a Bush-style campaign would help oust ISIS, similar to the “surge” that led to al Qaeda’s fall in the country.

“The war needs to be taken more broadly to Syria, which is operating as a safe haven for the Islamic State. That means engaging against President Assad more vigorously … A no-fly zone in Syria would help a great deal.”

He called U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic group “modest” and said deploying 10,000 to 12,00 combat ground troops is a crucial step.

“So far he [Obama] has not put into effect the military means we need to meet his objective,” he added.

The president deserves some credit, he said, for reversing his policy and going back into Iraq after pulling troops out in 2011.