01-05-2014, 10:57 PM
US STATEMENT ON IRAQI ANTI-TERRORISM ASSISTANCE
Snip:
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US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States will help the Iraqi government in its battle against al Qaeda-linked fighters in western Iraq, but stressed it won't send troops.
"We are not, obviously, contemplating returning. We're not contemplating putting boots on the ground. This is their fight, but we're going to help them in their fight," Kerry said, noting that the United States plans to be in "close contact with all of the Iraq political leaders" to determine how to help them.
"We going to do everything that is possible to help them, and I will not go into the details except to say that we're in contact with tribal leaders from Anbar province whom we know who are showing great courage in standing up against this as they reject terrorist groups from their cities. And this is a fight that belongs to the Iraqis. That is exactly what the President and the world decided some time ago when we left Iraq."
Fighting in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province in recent days has posed a serious challenge to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his Shiite-dominated government, raising questions about his ability to hold the country together amid a rising insurgency.
Conflicting reports have the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), formerly the group commonly known as al Qaeda in Iraq, in partial control of Falluja, the site of some of the bloodiest fighting between U.S. forces and insurgents during the Iraq War.
Full story: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/05/world/meas...?hpt=wo_c1
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Well, I'm glad to see the new Iraqi leadership is committed to thwarting a major resurgence of al-Qaeda in the country.
And, I'm glad that the US is not considering putting boots on the ground there, again.
But, I do wonder how the hell we're gonna help them stave off a mutually declared enemy that is on the rebound without a physical presence.
Kerry focused his statements on what we're not gonna do, but isn't giving details about how exactly we're going to support Iraq.
Drones? Intel/surveillance? Weapons? Financial aid? Mere consultation?
Curious to see where this leads.
Snip:
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States will help the Iraqi government in its battle against al Qaeda-linked fighters in western Iraq, but stressed it won't send troops.
"We are not, obviously, contemplating returning. We're not contemplating putting boots on the ground. This is their fight, but we're going to help them in their fight," Kerry said, noting that the United States plans to be in "close contact with all of the Iraq political leaders" to determine how to help them.
"We going to do everything that is possible to help them, and I will not go into the details except to say that we're in contact with tribal leaders from Anbar province whom we know who are showing great courage in standing up against this as they reject terrorist groups from their cities. And this is a fight that belongs to the Iraqis. That is exactly what the President and the world decided some time ago when we left Iraq."
Fighting in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province in recent days has posed a serious challenge to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his Shiite-dominated government, raising questions about his ability to hold the country together amid a rising insurgency.
Conflicting reports have the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), formerly the group commonly known as al Qaeda in Iraq, in partial control of Falluja, the site of some of the bloodiest fighting between U.S. forces and insurgents during the Iraq War.
Full story: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/05/world/meas...?hpt=wo_c1
===============================================================
Well, I'm glad to see the new Iraqi leadership is committed to thwarting a major resurgence of al-Qaeda in the country.
And, I'm glad that the US is not considering putting boots on the ground there, again.
But, I do wonder how the hell we're gonna help them stave off a mutually declared enemy that is on the rebound without a physical presence.
Kerry focused his statements on what we're not gonna do, but isn't giving details about how exactly we're going to support Iraq.
Drones? Intel/surveillance? Weapons? Financial aid? Mere consultation?
Curious to see where this leads.