Mattis presents preliminary plan to White House to defeat ISIS globally

"The Department of Defence presented its preliminary plan to the White House today to defeat ISIS," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday. 

"This plan has been delivered by Secretary Mattis, who is currently briefing the principals on the option presented today and seeking their input and feedback," he said.

Part of the plan is to make sure that he fully discusses the recommendations that he is making and seek the input and feedback of the other principals.  "That can help guide where we go from here, how we go," he said in response to a question.

The Pentagon Press Secretary Capt Jeff Davis said the preliminary plan submitted by Mattis is trans-regional. 

"This is not just a military plan. It draws upon all elements of national power — diplomatic, financial, cyber, intelligence (and) public diplomacy, and it's been drafted in close coordination with our inter-agency partners," Davis told reporters during an off-camera news conference. 

"This plan is truly trans-regional. This is not just about Iraq and Syria, it is about defeating ISIS around the globe and other trans-regional violent extremist organisations, such as Al-Qaida," he said.

The formulation of the plan fulfilled a campaign pledge by President Donald Trump, who had said that if elected he would order up a 30-day review on accelerated action to eliminate ISIS as a threat.

Last month, Trump visited the Pentagon for the first time to sign an executive order directing Mattis to draw up the plan within 30 days. The military under the Obama administration was strongly opposed to the introduction of major elements of US conventional forces in combating the ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and backed the train, advise and assist role with local forces.

While officials did not name countries or the region listed in the plan, the comments coming from them indicated that it also includes addressing the challenge of growing presence of ISIS in South Asia, in particular Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Last week, the US and NATO Commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, expressed his concern over increasing presence of ISIS in Bangladesh. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, people from other terrorist groups are joining ISIS. 

Washington: US President Donald Trump is set to deliver his first speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday (IST 7.30 am (Wednesday)) during which he would unveil a "bold" agenda for the country and talk about the renewal of the American spirit.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that in his speech "the President will lay out an optimistic vision for the country, crossing traditional lines of party, race, socioeconomic status". "The theme will be the renewal of the American spirit," Spicer said.

"He will invite Americans of all backgrounds to come together in the service of a stronger and brighter future for our nation. In addition to laying out the concrete steps, the President has already taken to make the American dream possible for all of our people, he will talk about the bold agenda he wants to work with Congress," he said.

This includes tax and regulatory reform to provide relief to hard-working Americans and their businesses, making the workplace better for working parents, ensuring the families who have suffered under Obamacare's skyrocketing rates see it replaced with a patient-centred alternative, said Spicer.

He said the President's agenda is to make sure that every child in America has access to a good education, to rebuild the military and fulfil his commitments to veterans. "You can expect a speech grounded firmly in solving real problems for every American. How can we make sure that every American who needs a better job get one? How can we get kids who are trapped in failing schools into better ones?", he said.

"How we can keep gangs and drug violence out of our neighbourhoods and communities. The president will address the Americans who have been waiting for help from their leaders for too long and let them know that help is finally on the way," said the White House Press Secretary.