The President does expect that they can have an impact in intensifying our strategy for building the capacity of local forces inside of Syria for taking the fight on the ground to ISIL in their own country, that has been the core element of the military component of our strategy from the beginning: building the capacity of local forces on the ground.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest

More Quotes by White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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More Quotes From White House spokesman Josh Earnest

A lot of the work that has gone on has been to ensure that we would have confidence in the legal basis of these actions.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

We are always conscious of the impact that a presidential visit could have on law enforcement or emergency response resources.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

I would not anticipate that a visit by the president just for a couple of hours to that community to console the families of the victims of that attack would have any impact on the pace or success of the ongoing investigation.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

I haven't spent a lot of time contemplating the consequences of a Trump presidency, i think President Obama has effectively managed our relationship with Russia in a way that has advanced the interests of the United States, while also standing up for the basic international norms that Russia violated based on their activities along and across the Ukrainian border.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

Based on what has been described thus far, it clearly is a mistake because it runs counter to our policy, the consequences of that mistake at this point, however, do not seem significant.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

It is possible for Congress to carefully consider the details of this agreement and to review all of the benefits associated with this agreement for states and communities all across the country without kicking the vote all the way to the lame duck period, there is no reason that we need to wait that long, and particularly when you consider the views that have been shared by some leaders in the business community about how important it is for this agreement to get implemented so that American workers and American businesses can start reaping the businesses.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

The situation in Israel is particularly volatile, and so I think in this case his decision to reconsider that trip is a good outcome for all those involved.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

The Iran ballistic missile program has been ... a source of concern for years ... and it continues to be.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

Our position on that (measure) is firm - we oppose it - but we also oppose other things that have been floated for possible inclusion in the omnibus.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

We would like to see leaders in the Muslim community stand up and speak out more forcefully in terms of condemning these hateful, radicalizing messages that we see from extremist organizations.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
us-news

The president, in each of those situations, has been cognizant of the limits that are placed on the president of the United States, that his public expressions, either of support or criticism, could be perceived by some as interfering with an independent law enforcement investigation.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
us-news

So we want to make sure that these reforms are not so onerous that they inhibit our participation in the international economy, but of course our national security interests come first.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
politics

The fact of the matter is legislation like that is much more focused on politics than it is on national security.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

We are quite concerned about protecting freedom of navigation, the free flow of commerce in the South China Sea, and we're going to continue to encourage all parties, big and small, to resolve their differences diplomatically and to not try to use their comparative size and strength to intimidate their neighbors.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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I would expect that you would see the president sign the NDAA when it comes to his desk, that certainly does not reflect a change in our position, or the intensity of our position, about the need to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

These steps are being taken in airport facilities where the United States already has a cooperative relationship with the airport authorities so ... we can enhance the measures that are already in place to ensure the safety of Americans who may be traveling overseas.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
industrials
Absolutely it's still possible. It's still something that we are... by White House spokesman Josh Ear...

Absolutely it's still possible. It's still something that we are working very hard to accomplish.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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It's readily apparent that that apology was warranted. But obviously the decisions that Prime Minister Netanyahu has to make about who will serve his government and represent him and his country are decisions that he rightfully will make on his own.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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We would certainly welcome steps that are taken on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to try to reduce tensions and improve cross-strait relations, but, you know, we'll have to see what actually comes out of the meeting.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
top-news

But given how long it's taken ... it seems unusual to me to suggest that somehow it should be paused yet again.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest
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