Obama: U.S. can’t play whack-a-mole with ISIS

U.S. President Barack Obama urged Sunday Iraqi leaders to find a political solution to the crisis in their country and said he rejects the idea of sending troops to fight militant organizations "wherever they pop up."

Obama, who believes a global response against terrorism is needed, said his administration would not fall into the trap of ‘whack-a-mole’ foreign policy during an interview with American television channel CBS.

“I think it’s important for us to recognize that ISIS is just one of a number of organizations that we have to stay focused on,” Obama said.

“What we can’t do is think that we’re just going to play whack-a-mole and send U.S. troops occupying various countries wherever these organizations pop up,” he said.

“This is going to be a global challenge and one that the United States is going to have to address but we’re not going to be able to address it alone,” Obama said.

During the interview, Obama said he wanted to see Iraq create a command structure that includes Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

He also added that the crisis in Iraq is a ‘medium- and long-term threat’ to America because of their extreme ideology.

Nearly three years after he heralded the end of America's war in Iraq, Obama announced last week he was deploying up to 300 military advisers to help quell the insurgency. They join some 275 troops in and around Iraq to provide security and support for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and other American interests.

But the U.S. leader was adamant that U.S. troops would not be returning to combat.