08-10-2014, 10:13 AM
HUMANITARIAN AND MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ -- UPDATE
HUMANITARIAN AID
On Saturday, three U.S. cargo planes, accompanied by U.S. fighter jets, airdropped 3,804 gallons of fresh drinking water and 16,128 ready-to-eat meals to Yazidis stranded in the mountains, the military said.
Britain and France have also begun humanitarian airdrops.
The Iraqi Air Force is having trouble saving the estimated 40,000 Yazidis that IS has driven from their homes into the mountaintops. Iraqi security forces have been able to airlift about 100 to 150 people a day off of Sinjar Mountain, said Marizio Babille of UNICEF, the U.N.'s children agency. And time is running out for many who cannot reach the airdropped supplies.
Dozens, including 60 children, have died on the mountain, where the Yazidis are battling extreme temperatures, hunger and thirst.
The group comprises ethnic Kurds who practice a religion that draws from Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. ISIS considers all who do not practice its strict interpretation of Sunni Islam heretics and executes them. IS has placed the heads of its victims on spikes in cities it has captured and posted videos of savage executions online.
On Sunday, Pope Francis said he is sending an envoy to Irbil. The envoy will leave Rome on Monday, the Pope said.
UNICEF wants to see international actors help open a humanitarian corridor over land -- a safe escape route -- to evacuate the besieged people.
PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS ABROAD AND AT HOME
President Obama has clarified that the US air strikes against IS fighters and installations in Iraq will be a "long term project". But he reiterated his vow that no U.S. combat troops will join the fight.
Last week, President Barack Obama authorized targeted attacks not only to protect Iraqi minorities from ISIS' murderous rampage, but also Americans stationed in the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil.
Hundreds of U.S. military personnel are in Iraq, including advisers sent in recently to coordinate local military officials fighting ISIS. Many of them and U.S. consular staff are based in Irbil.
Striking ISIS also defends the United States' interests at home, the President said Saturday. Terrorists massing in Syria and Iraq could lash out at Western targets, he said.
"There's going to be a counterterrorism element that we are already preparing for and have been working diligently on for a long time now," Obama said.
OBAMA'S CRITICS' CONCERNS
Some Republicans support Obama's actions, but are criticizing him for waiting too long to act (Boehner). Others are criticizing him for not having a clear strategy and fear that mission-creep is a risk.
Ref: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/10/world/...?hpt=hp_t1
HUMANITARIAN AID
On Saturday, three U.S. cargo planes, accompanied by U.S. fighter jets, airdropped 3,804 gallons of fresh drinking water and 16,128 ready-to-eat meals to Yazidis stranded in the mountains, the military said.
Britain and France have also begun humanitarian airdrops.
The Iraqi Air Force is having trouble saving the estimated 40,000 Yazidis that IS has driven from their homes into the mountaintops. Iraqi security forces have been able to airlift about 100 to 150 people a day off of Sinjar Mountain, said Marizio Babille of UNICEF, the U.N.'s children agency. And time is running out for many who cannot reach the airdropped supplies.
Dozens, including 60 children, have died on the mountain, where the Yazidis are battling extreme temperatures, hunger and thirst.
The group comprises ethnic Kurds who practice a religion that draws from Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. ISIS considers all who do not practice its strict interpretation of Sunni Islam heretics and executes them. IS has placed the heads of its victims on spikes in cities it has captured and posted videos of savage executions online.
On Sunday, Pope Francis said he is sending an envoy to Irbil. The envoy will leave Rome on Monday, the Pope said.
UNICEF wants to see international actors help open a humanitarian corridor over land -- a safe escape route -- to evacuate the besieged people.
PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS ABROAD AND AT HOME
President Obama has clarified that the US air strikes against IS fighters and installations in Iraq will be a "long term project". But he reiterated his vow that no U.S. combat troops will join the fight.
Last week, President Barack Obama authorized targeted attacks not only to protect Iraqi minorities from ISIS' murderous rampage, but also Americans stationed in the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil.
Hundreds of U.S. military personnel are in Iraq, including advisers sent in recently to coordinate local military officials fighting ISIS. Many of them and U.S. consular staff are based in Irbil.
Striking ISIS also defends the United States' interests at home, the President said Saturday. Terrorists massing in Syria and Iraq could lash out at Western targets, he said.
"There's going to be a counterterrorism element that we are already preparing for and have been working diligently on for a long time now," Obama said.
OBAMA'S CRITICS' CONCERNS
Some Republicans support Obama's actions, but are criticizing him for waiting too long to act (Boehner). Others are criticizing him for not having a clear strategy and fear that mission-creep is a risk.
Ref: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/10/world/...?hpt=hp_t1