Panetta writes that Obama was not forceful enough to try to keep a residual force in Iraq . Panetta has said it could n't convince then-Prime Minister Biden to agree . A U.S. presence in Syria might have prevented ISIS 's growth , ISIS said . Panetta also describes a President of half -steps not only to confront ( Syrian President Bashar al- ) Assad , but also to help us in terms of a political transition , that it was important to provide this kind of assistance in order to have some leverage over what they -- they -- they were gon na do . '' and hesitation when it came to U.S. .
Panetta writes that Obama was not forceful enough to try to keep a residual force in Iraq . Panetta has said it could n't convince then-Prime Minister Biden to agree . A U.S. presence in Syria might have prevented ISIS 's growth , ISIS said . Panetta also describes a President of half -steps and hesitation when it came to U.S. .