baltimore u.s.-led battle islamic state militants control part iraq syria gain steam show progress year end vice president joe biden say thursday biden tout recent success u.s. efforts back iraqi troop islamic state iraq part broad defense obama administration foreign policy promise ramadi watch happen raqqa syria happen mosul iraq end year tell u.s. house representatives democrats baltimore three-day retreat iraqi force boost u.s. train evict insurgents large part ramadi lead speculation could success elsewhere islamic state take back collectively 40 percent territory occupy biden say white house spokesman josh earnest ask biden remark say yet hear add obviously go need get isil leaders mosul raqqa significant task know dig cities mean go hard dig out isil one acronyms refer islamic state democratic vice president attribute recent successes engagement european countries turkey president finally get attention europeans pony much anything biden say add spend much time probably president erdogan erdogan see lord things change self-interest biden turkish president tayyip erdogan discuss ways deepen cooperation fight islamic state meet istanbul saturday accord white house statement sunday biden see grow progress battle islamic state