President Obama will use a speech on Wednesday to make his case for launching a United States-led offensive against Sunni militants. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

Destroying ISIS May Take Years, U.S. Officials Say -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is preparing to carry out a campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria that may take three years to complete, requiring a sustained effort that could last until after President Obama has left office, according to senior administration officials.

The first phase, an air campaign with nearly 145 airstrikes in the past month, is already underway to protect ethnic and religious minorities and American diplomatic, intelligence and military personnel, and their facilities, as well as to begin rolling back ISIS gains in northern and western Iraq.

The next phase, which would begin sometime after Iraq forms a more inclusive government, scheduled this week, is expected to involve an intensified effort to train, advise or equip the Iraqi military, Kurdish fighters and possibly members of Sunni tribes.

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My Comment: As much as the New York Times tries to paint the White House as being on top of the problem .... I have no confidence that they know what they are doing.