Carter: Fight against ISIL 'far from over, but the outcome is not uncertain'

Defense Secretary Ash Carter today highlighted the gains made against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but emphasized that much work remains.

He promoted the value of U.S. troops as a "force multiplier," providing training, advice and assistance to local forces.

In an afternoon speech at Ft. Campbell, KY, Carter told members of the 101st Airborne Division, who are soon to deploy in support of the Iraqi army and peshmerga, that the military effort against ISIL encompasses three objectives: "One, destroy the ISIL parent tumor in Iraq and Syria by collapsing its two power centers in Raqqah and Mosul. Two, combat the emerging metastases of the ISIL tumor worldwide, and three, protect the homeland."

Despite declaring his confidence in the ability of the U.S. military to retake areas under ISIL control, Carter said: "For the defeat to be lasting, it has to be achieved and sustained by local forces that are motivated and capable."

At the same time, the secretary maintained that the United States cannot simply "leave Syria and Iraq to their fates and just try to prevent ISIL from spreading elsewhere."

Explaining that the complex and evolving nature of the adversary requires a novel approach, Carter said: "The Defense Department is organizing a new way to leverage security infrastructure we've already established in Afghanistan, the Middle East, East Africa, and Southern Europe into a network to counter transnational and transregional threats like ISIL." Such efforts have already born fruit, like the Nov. 13 strike against Abu Nabil, he said.

Finally, the secretary encouraged the outgoing troops to "bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to the fight."