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21:51 GMT
WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (KUNA) -- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Thursday warned that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) poses "a long term threat," beyond anything the US has seen.
"They're (ISIL) beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded," he told the press alongside General Dempsey, Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff.
Answering a question on the failed attempt to rescue American hostages, held by the group in Syria, Hagel said: "This operation, by the way, was a flawless operation. But the hostages were not there. So we'll do everything that we need to do -- to get our hostages back."
In terms of combating ISIL Dempsey said: "It is possible to contain them, and I think we've seen that their momentum was disrupted -- Can they be defeated without addressing that part of their organization which resides in Syria, the answer is no."
"ISIS will only truly be defeated when it's rejected by the 20 million disenfranchised Sunnis that happen to reside between Damascus and Baghdad," asserted Dempsey.
Hagel reiterated, "So we must prepare for everything, and the only way you do you take a cold, steely hard look at it and get ready." (end)
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