In blow to allies, Kerry walks back Gen. Dunford’s Libya statement

Special to WorldTribune.com

by Dr. Jack Caravelli, Geostrategy-Direct

In another example of the Obama administration’s unwillingness to delegate authority and its inability to form a cohesive policy on fighting ISIL, Secretary of State John Kerry has publicly contradicted the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, left, and Secretary of State John Kerry.
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, left, and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry has laid out U.S. strategy for countering gains made by ISIL in Libya that is at direct variance from remarks by Gen. Dunford made 10 days ago after a visit to France.

Related — Dunford: U.S., France planning ‘decisive military action’ in Libya, Feb. 3.

During his time in Paris, Dunford made public remarks indicating he and his French counterpart, General Pierre de Villiers, had agreed that it was imperative to score a “decisive military victory” against ISIS in Libya.

Dunford added that doing so was necessary to stabilize the local situation and to prevent Libya becoming a base for expanded terrorist operations in other parts of Africa. Dunford concluded that, “from my perspective we need to do more.”

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