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| Kerry in Baghdad to Urge Iraqis to Form New, Inclusive Government | Kerry in Baghdad to Urge Iraqis to Form New, Inclusive Government |
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| BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Monday morning to urge the Iraqis to bridge their sectarian differences and form a new, inclusive government. | BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Monday morning to urge the Iraqis to bridge their sectarian differences and form a new, inclusive government. |
| At the start of a series of meetings with representatives of various Iraqi factions, Mr. Kerry met with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, along with his top advisers, including Saad al-Dulaimi, the acting minister of defense, and Faleh al-Fayed, the Iraqi national security adviser. Mr. Kerry was accompanied by Robert S. Beecroft, the American ambassador to Iraq, and Brett McGurk, the senior State Department adviser on Iraq. | |
| The United States’ formal position, which Mr. Kerry underscored at a joint news conference on Sunday with his Egyptian counterpart, is that it is not in the business of picking Iraq’s leaders. | The United States’ formal position, which Mr. Kerry underscored at a joint news conference on Sunday with his Egyptian counterpart, is that it is not in the business of picking Iraq’s leaders. |
| But American officials say that it is imperative that the Iraqis quickly form a new government so they can present a united front against the Sunni militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, who have been strengthening their hold on northern and western Iraq. | But American officials say that it is imperative that the Iraqis quickly form a new government so they can present a united front against the Sunni militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, who have been strengthening their hold on northern and western Iraq. |
| President Obama is considering carrying out airstrikes against the militants, but the White House does not want to take sides in a sectarian clash in Iraq and, thus, is urging the Iraqis to pull together. | President Obama is considering carrying out airstrikes against the militants, but the White House does not want to take sides in a sectarian clash in Iraq and, thus, is urging the Iraqis to pull together. |
| “The United States would like to see the Iraqi people find leadership that is prepared to represent all of the people of Iraq,” Mr. Kerry said during the Sunday stop in Cairo. | “The United States would like to see the Iraqi people find leadership that is prepared to represent all of the people of Iraq,” Mr. Kerry said during the Sunday stop in Cairo. |
| Mr. Kerry has made frequent trips to Jerusalem and Ramallah in his pursuit of a Middle East peace agreement. But his trip here, which was not announced in advance, is only his second to Baghdad as secretary of state. | Mr. Kerry has made frequent trips to Jerusalem and Ramallah in his pursuit of a Middle East peace agreement. But his trip here, which was not announced in advance, is only his second to Baghdad as secretary of state. |
| Mr. Kerry last visited Baghdad in March 2013 for what he called “spirited” talks over Iraq’s reluctance to press Iran to stop sending arms to Syria through Iraqi airspace. | Mr. Kerry last visited Baghdad in March 2013 for what he called “spirited” talks over Iraq’s reluctance to press Iran to stop sending arms to Syria through Iraqi airspace. |
| In recent days, the United States has walked a fine line, emphasizing that it is not intervening in Iraqi internal politics, a policy that officials fear might backfire. But privately many American officials have expressed skepticism that Mr. Maliki is capable of leading a cross-sectarian government. | In recent days, the United States has walked a fine line, emphasizing that it is not intervening in Iraqi internal politics, a policy that officials fear might backfire. But privately many American officials have expressed skepticism that Mr. Maliki is capable of leading a cross-sectarian government. |
| “It is up to the people of Iraq to choose their future leadership,” Mr. Kerry said Sunday. “But we do note that the Kurds have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, the Sunnis have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, and some Shia have expressed dissatisfaction.” | “It is up to the people of Iraq to choose their future leadership,” Mr. Kerry said Sunday. “But we do note that the Kurds have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, the Sunnis have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, and some Shia have expressed dissatisfaction.” |
| Mr. Kerry added that Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite spiritual leader, has also said that it is important that the Iraqi government not repeat the mistakes of the past. | Mr. Kerry added that Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite spiritual leader, has also said that it is important that the Iraqi government not repeat the mistakes of the past. |
| The Obama administration withdrew the last of American troops from Iraq at the end of 2011, and a major question is how much leverage the United States still has to influence the political dynamics there. | The Obama administration withdrew the last of American troops from Iraq at the end of 2011, and a major question is how much leverage the United States still has to influence the political dynamics there. |
| Complicating the situation, officials say, is that new facts have been established on the ground. Following the gains by ISIS, Kurdish forces have moved into Kirkuk and a number of other disputed areas. | Complicating the situation, officials say, is that new facts have been established on the ground. Following the gains by ISIS, Kurdish forces have moved into Kirkuk and a number of other disputed areas. |
| Mr. Obama announced last week that he planned to send as many as 300 military advisers to help Iraq counter the ISIS militants. But the legal protections they would have for this mission were still being worked out, American officials said. | Mr. Obama announced last week that he planned to send as many as 300 military advisers to help Iraq counter the ISIS militants. But the legal protections they would have for this mission were still being worked out, American officials said. |
| Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said that Mr. Kerry “will meet with Iraqi leaders from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Maliki, to discuss the crisis in Iraq.” | Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said that Mr. Kerry “will meet with Iraqi leaders from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Maliki, to discuss the crisis in Iraq.” |
| “He will discuss U.S. actions underway to assist Iraq as it confronts this threat” from Sunni militants, she said, and will “urge Iraqi leaders to move forward as quickly as possible with its government formation process to forge a government that represents the interests of all Iraqis.” | “He will discuss U.S. actions underway to assist Iraq as it confronts this threat” from Sunni militants, she said, and will “urge Iraqi leaders to move forward as quickly as possible with its government formation process to forge a government that represents the interests of all Iraqis.” |