Because I think -- you know , when you read it , it 's a pretty balanced presentation of what happened . '' Panetta writes that Obama was not forceful enough to try to maintain a residual force in Iraq . The White House has said it could n't convince then - Prime Minister al - Maliki to stay . A U.S. presence in Iraq might have prevented ISIS 's growth , Panetta said . He also describes a culture of half - confidence and hesitation when it came to Syria .
Panetta writes that Obama was not forceful enough to try to maintain a residual force in Iraq . The White House has said it could n't convince then - Prime Minister al - Maliki to stay . A U.S. presence in Iraq might have prevented ISIS 's growth , Panetta said . He also describes a culture of half - confidence and hesitation when it came to Syria .