Thus Der Spiegel today. “Obama has spent much of his term withdrawing the US from quagmires abroad,” explains the newspaper. “But now, in the battle against Islamic State extremists, he has a war of his own. His plan of attack, though, is filled with uncertainties and America’s ultimate goal remains unclear.” Barack Obama announced airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on the eve of the thirteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, DC. His promise was as symbolic as was the date: “We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIS.” As for the means, he limited himself to airstrikes. Now, is this dangerously vague? Given how much is known about ISIS, Obama could not be any clearer in his announcement. The article should thus have been addressed to ISIS, instead. What is its plan of attack? Even more important, what is its ultimate goal? And no vagueness, please. Once these are made perfectly clear, Obama will have to come up with a rejoinder of equal or even greater clarity. Only then will the criticism be justified.

In memory of Roman emperor Theodosius II (401-450)