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U.S. Outlines Conditions for Expanded Military and Political Support in Iraq U.S. Outlines Conditions for Expanded Military and Political Support in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
SYDNEY, Australia — The United States would consider expanding military and political support for Iraq if Haider al-Abadi assumes the duties of prime minister and leads a multisectarian government, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Tuesday.SYDNEY, Australia — The United States would consider expanding military and political support for Iraq if Haider al-Abadi assumes the duties of prime minister and leads a multisectarian government, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Tuesday.
Neither Mr. Kerry nor Mr. Hagel provided any details about what additional support might be provided, and it remains unclear whether the Obama administration is willing to significantly expand airstrikes to help a new Iraqi government roll back the gains made by Sunni militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Neither Mr. Kerry nor Mr. Hagel provided any details about what additional support might be provided, and it remains unclear whether the Obama administration is willing to expand airstrikes significantly to help a new Iraqi government roll back the gains made by Sunni militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“We are prepared to consider additional political, military and security options as Iraq starts to build a new government,” Mr. Kerry said.“We are prepared to consider additional political, military and security options as Iraq starts to build a new government,” Mr. Kerry said.
As they spoke, British officials were planning further modest steps in support of the United States in northern Iraq with an announcement that the Royal Air Force would deploy a “small number” of Tornado warplanes on surveillance missions. But officials again ruled out a combat role against Sunni militants threatening Kurdish positions there. As they spoke, British officials were planning further modest steps in support of the United States in northern Iraq with an announcement that the Royal Air Force would deploy a “small number” of Tornado warplanes on surveillance missions. But officials again ruled out a combat role against Sunni militants threatening Kurdish positions.
The warplanes would support efforts to drop humanitarian aid to thousands of Yazidi people besieged by the militants on Mount Sinjar, officials said, and Britain would also investigate ways to help deliver equipment to Kurdish forces battling the insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Central Intelligence Agency is already supplying some weapons to Kurdish pesh merga fighters, although the types and amounts of arms are unclear. The British warplanes would support efforts to drop humanitarian aid to thousands of Yazidi people besieged by the militants on Mount Sinjar, officials said, and Britain would also investigate ways to help deliver equipment to Kurdish forces battling the insurgents. The Central Intelligence Agency is already supplying some weapons to Kurdish pesh merga fighters, although the types and amounts of arms are unclear.
The British government said on Tuesday that air force pilots completed a second airdrop of humanitarian supplies over the rugged uplands late on Monday. One earlier mission was aborted at the last minute, officials said, because the pilots feared the loads could cause injuries among crowds waiting on the ground. The British government said on Tuesday that air force pilots had completed a second airdrop of humanitarian supplies over the rugged uplands late on Monday. One earlier mission was aborted at the last minute, officials said, because the pilots feared the loads could cause injuries among crowds waiting on the ground.
Though the George W. Bush administration helped bring Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to power and the Obama administration acquiesced as he maneuvered to secure a second term, American officials have opposed a third term for the Iraqi prime minister, who has been criticized for his authoritarian tendencies and for aggravating sectarian tensions. The supplies included water, water purification systems and solar lamps that also function as cellphone battery chargers, British officials said.
Although the George W. Bush administration helped bring Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to power and the Obama administration acquiesced as he maneuvered to secure a second term, American officials have opposed a third term for the Iraqi prime minister, who has been criticized for his authoritarian tendencies and for aggravating sectarian tensions.
The United States is calculating that a new prime minister will be able to establish an inclusive government that would grant Sunnis more of a voice in the political system and, thus, make them less hospitable to ISIS militants.The United States is calculating that a new prime minister will be able to establish an inclusive government that would grant Sunnis more of a voice in the political system and, thus, make them less hospitable to ISIS militants.
On Monday, Mr. Kerry warned that the United States and the international community would cut off its support for Iraq if Mr. Maliki employed the security forces to extend his rule. Having brandished the stick, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel on Tuesday offered a carrot: the possibility of expanded support.On Monday, Mr. Kerry warned that the United States and the international community would cut off its support for Iraq if Mr. Maliki employed the security forces to extend his rule. Having brandished the stick, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel on Tuesday offered a carrot: the possibility of expanded support.
The United States “is prepared to intensify its security cooperation,” Mr. Hagel said.The United States “is prepared to intensify its security cooperation,” Mr. Hagel said.
Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel conferred here with Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign affairs minister, and David Johnston, the Australian defense minister. As expected, the two sides signed a so-called force posture agreement that provides for the rotation of United States Marines and Air Force personnel in northeast Australia.Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel conferred here with Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign affairs minister, and David Johnston, the Australian defense minister. As expected, the two sides signed a so-called force posture agreement that provides for the rotation of United States Marines and Air Force personnel in northeast Australia.
They also discussed the problem of Western citizens who volunteer to fight with ISIS and other extremist groups, become radicalized and then return home. They also conferred on the situation in Ukraine. They also discussed the problem of Western citizens who volunteer to fight with ISIS and other extremist groups, become radicalized and then return home. They also talked about the situation in Ukraine.
Britain, which once ranked among America’s closest allies in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been more reluctant to intervene in overseas campaigns recently, especially after Parliament last year refused to authorize punitive military action against Syria for its use of chemical weapons in the civil war there.Britain, which once ranked among America’s closest allies in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been more reluctant to intervene in overseas campaigns recently, especially after Parliament last year refused to authorize punitive military action against Syria for its use of chemical weapons in the civil war there.
The office of Prime Minister David Cameron announced the deployment of the Tornados without saying exactly where they would be based and stressed that only a small number would be sent to provide surveillance in support of humanitarian relief efforts.The office of Prime Minister David Cameron announced the deployment of the Tornados without saying exactly where they would be based and stressed that only a small number would be sent to provide surveillance in support of humanitarian relief efforts.
“We are providing humanitarian assistance. This is not simple - getting it in is very challenging, getting people off that mountain is even more challenging,” Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday. “We are providing humanitarian assistance. This is not simple — getting it in is very challenging, getting people off that mountain is even more challenging,” Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday.
While some lawmakers from Mr. Cameron’s Conservative Party clamored for the recall of Parliament to debate a tougher response, Mr. Hammond rejected the idea and said, “We don’t envisage a combat role at the present time.” While some lawmakers from Mr. Cameron’s Conservative Party called for the recall of Parliament to debate a tougher response, Mr. Hammond rejected the idea and said, “We don’t envisage a combat role at the present time.”
“We are talking about a humanitarian intervention,” he said. “We have a very clear convention about consulting Parliament before British forces are committed into any kind of combat role.”“We are talking about a humanitarian intervention,” he said. “We have a very clear convention about consulting Parliament before British forces are committed into any kind of combat role.”