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| Barack Obama says US will not be 'dragged into another war' in Iraq | Barack Obama says US will not be 'dragged into another war' in Iraq |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama on Saturday used his weekly address to assure the US public that despite the launching of air strikes on Islamic militants in Iraq, he “will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war”. | President Barack Obama on Saturday used his weekly address to assure the US public that despite the launching of air strikes on Islamic militants in Iraq, he “will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war”. |
| He added, however, that strikes would continue “if necessary”. | He added, however, that strikes would continue “if necessary”. |
| The White House later said Obama would deliver a new statement on Iraq later on Saturday morning, before he leaves for a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. The statement was scheduled for 10.25am ET. | The White House later said Obama would deliver a new statement on Iraq later on Saturday morning, before he leaves for a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. The statement was scheduled for 10.25am ET. |
| Obama is scheduled to return from his vacation next Sunday, spending a few days in Washington before returning to the Massachusetts resort. | |
| US forces launched three waves of strikes on Friday, targeting Islamic State (Isis) fighters around the Kurdish city of Irbil. On Saturday, a second airdrop of supplies was made to refugees hiding in mountainous areas after fleeing persecution by the militants. | US forces launched three waves of strikes on Friday, targeting Islamic State (Isis) fighters around the Kurdish city of Irbil. On Saturday, a second airdrop of supplies was made to refugees hiding in mountainous areas after fleeing persecution by the militants. |
| Tony Abbott, the prime minister of Australia, said his country was preparing to join the humanitarian effort. A British plane left an RAF base to drop supplies. | Tony Abbott, the prime minister of Australia, said his country was preparing to join the humanitarian effort. A British plane left an RAF base to drop supplies. |
| Obama said the air strikes had been authorised “to protect our American diplomats and military advisers” in Irbil from “terrorist forces” near the city. Referring to his original statement to the nation, in which he announced the strikes and the humanitarian effort, he said: “I made it clear that if they attempted to advance further, our military would respond with targeted strikes. | Obama said the air strikes had been authorised “to protect our American diplomats and military advisers” in Irbil from “terrorist forces” near the city. Referring to his original statement to the nation, in which he announced the strikes and the humanitarian effort, he said: “I made it clear that if they attempted to advance further, our military would respond with targeted strikes. |
| “That’s what we’ve done. And, if necessary, that’s what we will continue to do.” | “That’s what we’ve done. And, if necessary, that’s what we will continue to do.” |
| Regarding the air drops, which are aimed at helping refugees from the Yazidi religious minority, Obama said: “The terrorists that have taken over parts of Iraq have been especially brutal to religious minorities – rounding up families, executing men, enslaving women, and threatening the systematic destruction of an entire religious community, which would be genocide.” | Regarding the air drops, which are aimed at helping refugees from the Yazidi religious minority, Obama said: “The terrorists that have taken over parts of Iraq have been especially brutal to religious minorities – rounding up families, executing men, enslaving women, and threatening the systematic destruction of an entire religious community, which would be genocide.” |
| On Friday, religious leaders said Isis persecution of religious minorities in Iraq had already become a genocide. | On Friday, religious leaders said Isis persecution of religious minorities in Iraq had already become a genocide. |
| Obama said the US “cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world”, but added: “When there’s a situation like the one on this mountain – when countless innocent people are facing a massacre, and when we have the ability to help prevent it – the United States can’t just look away.” | Obama said the US “cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world”, but added: “When there’s a situation like the one on this mountain – when countless innocent people are facing a massacre, and when we have the ability to help prevent it – the United States can’t just look away.” |
| Obama said the US would continue its “broader strategy in Iraq”, which would involve continued protection and humanitarian efforts, and urging “Iraqi communities to reconcile, come together and fight back against these terrorists so the people of Iraq have the opportunity for a better future”. | Obama said the US would continue its “broader strategy in Iraq”, which would involve continued protection and humanitarian efforts, and urging “Iraqi communities to reconcile, come together and fight back against these terrorists so the people of Iraq have the opportunity for a better future”. |
| The president has gained broad domestic support for the strikes, although Republican voices have dissented. On Friday John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of the Representatives, issued a statement in which he said: “The president’s authorisation of air strikes is appropriate, but like many Americans, I am dismayed by the ongoing absence of a strategy for countering the grave threat Isis poses to the region.” | The president has gained broad domestic support for the strikes, although Republican voices have dissented. On Friday John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of the Representatives, issued a statement in which he said: “The president’s authorisation of air strikes is appropriate, but like many Americans, I am dismayed by the ongoing absence of a strategy for countering the grave threat Isis poses to the region.” |
| On Saturday, giving the Republican weekly address, Mike McFadden, a Senate candidate from Minnesota, criticised the Obama administration’s record on the economy. | On Saturday, giving the Republican weekly address, Mike McFadden, a Senate candidate from Minnesota, criticised the Obama administration’s record on the economy. |