President Barack Obama still is not listening to advisers on combating the Islamic State (ISIS), says James Jeffrey, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
Obama was successful in fighting al-Qaida, including killing Osama bin Laden, but has since pivoted attention to the Pacific, Jeffrey said Wednesday on
Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."
The idea was to let the Middle East deal with itself. Since the United States wasn't successful in dealing with Afghanistan and Iraq, the thinking was to stop trying, Jeffrey said.
"Well, we see what happens when we stop trying," he said.
The former ambassador said he prefers sending at least some U.S. ground troops to back up airstrikes, but that if airstrikes alone are the plan, then more airplanes should be used and more advisers should be put on the ground.
Obama has been told that, but doesn't go along with the recommendations, Jeffrey said.