Local Residents React To President's ISIS Strategy

By Matt Rivers

BERKS COUNTY, Pa., (CBS) -- As Americans, we all have a stake in what the President said Wednesday evening. For some of us, though, that stake is very personal.

Majid Alsayegh was born in Mosul, Iraq, the first major Iraqi city to fall under ISIS control. He came to the U.S. at 19, but much of his family still lives there. Their lives are not easy.

"Just finding food in the markets is a challenge," said Alsayegh. "They live from day to day dreading what the next day might bring."

Which brings us to Wednesday's presidential address. Eyewitness News sat with Alsayegh as he listened, intently, to the President outline a strategy to combat ISIS. He thinks the broader bombing campaign is a positive step.

"[It will] help cut off the supply lines both ways and will certainly weaken ISIS in the region," said Alsayegh.

He also said it was crucial the US assist the people that want to stand up to ISIS, both in Iraq and Syria. Eliminating radicalism while empowering moderates, he says, is the only way to achieve lasting peace.

"To really build a more stable Middle East, there really needs to be a lot of effort winning hearts and minds," said Alsayegh.

No small task in a situation far from over.

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