This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/iraq-crisis-us-iran-republican-talk-obama-isis

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iraq crisis: Republican senator calls for US-Iran talks and blasts Obama Iraq crisis: Republican senator calls for US-Iran talks and blasts Obama
(35 minutes later)
The US should “sit down and talk” with Iran over the crisis in Iraq, top Republican senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday.The US should “sit down and talk” with Iran over the crisis in Iraq, top Republican senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday.
Graham, a leading foreign policy hawk, also attacked President Barack Obama for what he said was his “delusional and detached” response to the crisis.Graham, a leading foreign policy hawk, also attacked President Barack Obama for what he said was his “delusional and detached” response to the crisis.
In Iraq, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) fighters are now outside Baghdad. On Saturday, while Obama was in California to attend a Democratic fundraiser and deliver a commencement speech, defence secretary Chuck Hagel ordered an aircraft carrier and two missile-carrying ships to the Persian Gulf, raising the possibility of imminent US airstrikes.In Iraq, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) fighters are now outside Baghdad. On Saturday, while Obama was in California to attend a Democratic fundraiser and deliver a commencement speech, defence secretary Chuck Hagel ordered an aircraft carrier and two missile-carrying ships to the Persian Gulf, raising the possibility of imminent US airstrikes.
Also on Sunday Mike McCaul, the Republican chair of the House homeland security committee, told ABC's This Week: “Well, this is a crisis. It does call for a response, not going to Palm Springs for a fundraiser.”Also on Sunday Mike McCaul, the Republican chair of the House homeland security committee, told ABC's This Week: “Well, this is a crisis. It does call for a response, not going to Palm Springs for a fundraiser.”
On Saturday, secretary of state John Kerry spoke to the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, by phone. The State Department said Kerry “stressed that the United States is committed to supporting Iraq and that the president is examining a range of options that could help the Iraqi security forces push back [Isis] advances.”
The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, on Saturday signalled an alignment of interests. "If we see that the United States takes action against terrorist groups in Iraq, then one can think about it," he told reporters, according to Agence France Presse.The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, on Saturday signalled an alignment of interests. "If we see that the United States takes action against terrorist groups in Iraq, then one can think about it," he told reporters, according to Agence France Presse.
Graham's announcement, made on CNN’s State of the Nation, represented a volte face from previous calls for the authorisation to declare war on Iran.Graham's announcement, made on CNN’s State of the Nation, represented a volte face from previous calls for the authorisation to declare war on Iran.
“If Baghdad falls, if the central government falls, a disaster awaits us of monumental proportions,” said Graham.“If Baghdad falls, if the central government falls, a disaster awaits us of monumental proportions,” said Graham.
On Saturday, Iraqi officials told the Guardian Iran had sent 2,000 advance troops across the border. General Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Iran's Qods Force, is coordinating the defence of Baghdad. The US suspects the Qods Force of having carried out attacks on US troops during the Iraq war.On Saturday, Iraqi officials told the Guardian Iran had sent 2,000 advance troops across the border. General Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Iran's Qods Force, is coordinating the defence of Baghdad. The US suspects the Qods Force of having carried out attacks on US troops during the Iraq war.
“Why did we deal with Stalin?” Graham asked. “Because he’s not as bad as Hitler. The Iranians can provide some assets to make sure that Baghdad doesn’t fall. We need to co-ordinate with the Iranians and the Turks need to get into the game.“Why did we deal with Stalin?” Graham asked. “Because he’s not as bad as Hitler. The Iranians can provide some assets to make sure that Baghdad doesn’t fall. We need to co-ordinate with the Iranians and the Turks need to get into the game.
“We should have discussions with Iran to make sure they don’t use this as an opportunity to seize control of parts of Iraq. They’re in this, we need to put a red line with Iran.”“We should have discussions with Iran to make sure they don’t use this as an opportunity to seize control of parts of Iraq. They’re in this, we need to put a red line with Iran.”
Graham said the US should “sit down and talk” with Iran. “To ignore Iran and not tell them ‘Don’t take advantaged of this situation’ would be a mistake,” he said.Graham said the US should “sit down and talk” with Iran. “To ignore Iran and not tell them ‘Don’t take advantaged of this situation’ would be a mistake,” he said.
The senator also blasted the Obama administration over its handling of the situation, arguing that the president's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq had led to the current crisis.The senator also blasted the Obama administration over its handling of the situation, arguing that the president's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq had led to the current crisis.
Graham said “this stubborn-headed president we have who thinks he knows better than anybody else, who withdrew troops and exposed this country to the inevitable, needs to change his policies quickly.”Graham said “this stubborn-headed president we have who thinks he knows better than anybody else, who withdrew troops and exposed this country to the inevitable, needs to change his policies quickly.”
He added that Obama was “delusional” and “detached”. “The number of people who could die in this country from getting this wrong is going to be far greater than 4,000 [a reference to the number of US troops killed so far in Iraq, actually 4,424] because they are getting hold of weapons they did not have before,” he said."He added that Obama was “delusional” and “detached”. “The number of people who could die in this country from getting this wrong is going to be far greater than 4,000 [a reference to the number of US troops killed so far in Iraq, actually 4,424] because they are getting hold of weapons they did not have before,” he said."
“The economic chaos to the world is going to be far greater than anything we spend on saving Iraq. This is another 9/11 in the making.”“The economic chaos to the world is going to be far greater than anything we spend on saving Iraq. This is another 9/11 in the making.”
Graham’s comments echo those of House Speaker John Boehner, who earlier this week accused Obama of "taking a nap" as Isis marched on Baghdad.Graham’s comments echo those of House Speaker John Boehner, who earlier this week accused Obama of "taking a nap" as Isis marched on Baghdad.
"It's not like we haven't seen this problem coming for over a year," Boehner said. "They're 100 miles from Baghdad, and what's the president doing? Taking a nap.""It's not like we haven't seen this problem coming for over a year," Boehner said. "They're 100 miles from Baghdad, and what's the president doing? Taking a nap."
On ABC on Sunday, McCaul blamed the situation in Iraq on “the president's inability to negotiate a status of forces agreement” at the end of the Iraq war and added: “I talked to [former] ambassador [to Iraq Ryan] Crocker yesterday and he said that this is the greatest threat, national security threat, since 9/11”.On ABC on Sunday, McCaul blamed the situation in Iraq on “the president's inability to negotiate a status of forces agreement” at the end of the Iraq war and added: “I talked to [former] ambassador [to Iraq Ryan] Crocker yesterday and he said that this is the greatest threat, national security threat, since 9/11”.
The last US troops left Iraq in 2011 after the failure of talks between prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and Obama over a longer-term presence.The last US troops left Iraq in 2011 after the failure of talks between prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and Obama over a longer-term presence.
McCaul continued: “This al-Qaida faction, Isis in Syria and now in Iraq, is so extreme, that Ayman al-Zawahiri and core al-Qaida have denounced them. That's how dangerous they are.McCaul continued: “This al-Qaida faction, Isis in Syria and now in Iraq, is so extreme, that Ayman al-Zawahiri and core al-Qaida have denounced them. That's how dangerous they are.
“This is not some 'down the road' prospect. I would argue that not only is the threat great in Iraq and Syria but so [is it] to the homeland, because we have a lot of individuals over there with legal travel documents that are trained – and these are the vicious, the worst of the worst.“This is not some 'down the road' prospect. I would argue that not only is the threat great in Iraq and Syria but so [is it] to the homeland, because we have a lot of individuals over there with legal travel documents that are trained – and these are the vicious, the worst of the worst.
“If they get back into the United States or in western Europe against western targets, I see that as a biggest threat today.”“If they get back into the United States or in western Europe against western targets, I see that as a biggest threat today.”
Graham said that if Isis took Baghdad, Syria and Iraq would become the “new staging area for an attack on America”.Graham said that if Isis took Baghdad, Syria and Iraq would become the “new staging area for an attack on America”.
“My biggest fear is that they will march for Jordan,” he said, a move that he said would leave “the whole Middle East in turmoil”.“My biggest fear is that they will march for Jordan,” he said, a move that he said would leave “the whole Middle East in turmoil”.
Al-Maliki should resign, Graham said. The senator added that the US's priorities should be: “Stop the march on Baghdad, form a new government.”Al-Maliki should resign, Graham said. The senator added that the US's priorities should be: “Stop the march on Baghdad, form a new government.”
He suggested the US should send former general and CIA director David Petraeus and former ambassador Crocker to form that new government.He suggested the US should send former general and CIA director David Petraeus and former ambassador Crocker to form that new government.