Smoke raises behind an Islamic State flag after Iraqi security forces and Shiite fighters took control of Saadiya in Diyala province from Islamist State militants, November 24, 2014.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to send troops to Iraq has received mixed reactions from experts. While some believe that it will help the security of the country, some think that it is unlikely to make Iraqi army stronger. Smoke raises behind an Islamic State flag after Iraqi security forces and Shiite fighters took control of Saadiya in Diyala province from Islamist State militants, November 24, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS/Stringer

The former head of the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency has criticised the Obama administration for its “paralysed” strategy in the fight against ISIS militants in the Middle East. The newly retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn has urged the U.S. to lead the war against ISIS and Al-Qaeda which he described as the new enemy committed to spread destruction.

Flynn said the enemy is bent on destroying the freedom and American way of life, according to the Daily Beast. At a Washington industry conference, the retired general strongly declared that there was no substitute for the power of the U.S. He slammed the Obama administration for refusing to call ISIS and Al-Qaeda as “Islamic militants.” He said the enemy cannot be defeated if the U.S. does not admit their existence.

Flynn told his audience at the conference that the Obama administration refuses to admit the scope of the problem. “There are many sincere people in our government who frankly are paralysed by this complexity," he said. Flynn also accused the U.S. of failing to understand what drives militants like ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile, a group linked to ISIS has stormed a luxury hotel in Libya. New York Times reported that militants who pledged allegiance to ISIS claimed responsibility for the armed assault in the Tripoli hotel that killed at least eight people.

At least four gunmen shouted “God is great” while storming the hotel in Corinthia early in the morning, according to witnesses. The gunmen began firing their weapons in the lobby and indiscriminately shot civilians. Officials said at least five of the people who were shot were foreign tourists. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that at least one American was killed.

The recent attack is considered one of the deadliest against Western interests in Libya. Reports said the hotel shooting was also the bloodiest of recent attacks instigated by Libyan militants who swore their loyalty to ISIS.

A group called the Tripoli Province of the Islamic has released a statement via social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The statement said the group launched the assault in retaliation for the kidnapping of a Libyan Qaeda operative by U.S. commandos in 2014.

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