This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/world/middleeast/us-and-allies-form-coalition-against-isis.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| At Summit, U.S. and Allies Form Coalition Against ISIS | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| NEWPORT, Wales — The Obama administration said Friday that it had formed a coalition of countries to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, unveiling a military and political campaign that officials said could eventually serve as a model for fighting extremist groups around the world. | NEWPORT, Wales — The Obama administration said Friday that it had formed a coalition of countries to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, unveiling a military and political campaign that officials said could eventually serve as a model for fighting extremist groups around the world. |
| In a hastily organized meeting on the outskirts of the NATO summit meeting, diplomats and military officials from the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark huddled on what they called a two-pronged strategy: working to bolster allies fighting on the ground in Iraq and Syria, while the United States, alone so far, bombs Sunni militants from the air, so long as they are in Iraq. | In a hastily organized meeting on the outskirts of the NATO summit meeting, diplomats and military officials from the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark huddled on what they called a two-pronged strategy: working to bolster allies fighting on the ground in Iraq and Syria, while the United States, alone so far, bombs Sunni militants from the air, so long as they are in Iraq. |
| “There is no containment policy for ISIL,” Secretary of State John Kerry said at the beginning of the meeting, referring to the militant group by another acronym, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. “They’re an ambitious, avowed, genocidal, territorial-grabbing, caliphate-desiring quasi-state with an irregular army, and leaving them in some capacity intact anywhere would leave a cancer in place that will ultimately come back to haunt us.” | “There is no containment policy for ISIL,” Secretary of State John Kerry said at the beginning of the meeting, referring to the militant group by another acronym, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. “They’re an ambitious, avowed, genocidal, territorial-grabbing, caliphate-desiring quasi-state with an irregular army, and leaving them in some capacity intact anywhere would leave a cancer in place that will ultimately come back to haunt us.” |
| But he and other officials made clear that at the moment, any ground combat troops would come from either Iraqi security forces and Kurdish fighters in Iraq, or moderate Syrian rebels opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. “Obviously I think that’s a red line for everybody here: no boots on the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. | But he and other officials made clear that at the moment, any ground combat troops would come from either Iraqi security forces and Kurdish fighters in Iraq, or moderate Syrian rebels opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. “Obviously I think that’s a red line for everybody here: no boots on the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. |
| Britain said that no military requests had been made of it as part of the talks. “We are not at the stage for this type of conversation,” said an aide to Prime Minister David Cameron. Discussions focused mainly on a “political-led strategy,” said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in accordance with diplomatic practice. | Britain said that no military requests had been made of it as part of the talks. “We are not at the stage for this type of conversation,” said an aide to Prime Minister David Cameron. Discussions focused mainly on a “political-led strategy,” said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in accordance with diplomatic practice. |
| The discussion, the aide said, was about “how we put together the best support and help for those countries in the region which are in the front of squeezing the threat that is posed by ISIL.” | The discussion, the aide said, was about “how we put together the best support and help for those countries in the region which are in the front of squeezing the threat that is posed by ISIL.” |
| Privately, one diplomat said that the meeting’s participants, at the level of foreign ministers rather than leaders, indicated that the United States was still fleshing out its strategy against ISIS. The Americans also are eager to maintain pressure on Iraq to form an inclusive government as a prerequisite for closer engagement. | Privately, one diplomat said that the meeting’s participants, at the level of foreign ministers rather than leaders, indicated that the United States was still fleshing out its strategy against ISIS. The Americans also are eager to maintain pressure on Iraq to form an inclusive government as a prerequisite for closer engagement. |
| But some diplomats were also uncomfortable using a summit meeting of the 28-nation alliance as a backdrop for a smaller group with no NATO imprimatur and, except for Turkey, no partners with large Muslim populations. | But some diplomats were also uncomfortable using a summit meeting of the 28-nation alliance as a backdrop for a smaller group with no NATO imprimatur and, except for Turkey, no partners with large Muslim populations. |
| American officials are hoping to expand the coalition against ISIS to include as many countries as possible, particularly in the Middle East region. Obama administration officials said privately that in addition to the countries that attended the meeting Friday morning, the United States was hoping to acquire intelligence help about the Sunni militants from Jordan, whose leader, King Abdullah, was attending the Wales meeting. | American officials are hoping to expand the coalition against ISIS to include as many countries as possible, particularly in the Middle East region. Obama administration officials said privately that in addition to the countries that attended the meeting Friday morning, the United States was hoping to acquire intelligence help about the Sunni militants from Jordan, whose leader, King Abdullah, was attending the Wales meeting. |
| United States officials said they also expect Saudi Arabia to contribute to financing and building up moderate Syrian rebel groups. In addition, Yousef al-Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, said in a statement earlier this week that his country stood ready to join the fight against ISIS. | United States officials said they also expect Saudi Arabia to contribute to financing and building up moderate Syrian rebel groups. In addition, Yousef al-Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, said in a statement earlier this week that his country stood ready to join the fight against ISIS. |
| “No one has more at stake than the U.A.E. and other moderate countries in the region that have rejected the regressive Islamist creed and embraced a different, forward-looking path,” the ambassador said. The Emiratis, he said, are “ready to join the international community in an urgent, coordinated and sustained effort to confront a threat that will, if unchecked, have global ramifications for decades to come.” | “No one has more at stake than the U.A.E. and other moderate countries in the region that have rejected the regressive Islamist creed and embraced a different, forward-looking path,” the ambassador said. The Emiratis, he said, are “ready to join the international community in an urgent, coordinated and sustained effort to confront a threat that will, if unchecked, have global ramifications for decades to come.” |
| Enlisting the Sunni neighbors of Syria and Iraq is crucial, experts said, because airstrikes alone will not be enough to vanquish ISIS fighters. The Obama administration is also seeking to pursue a strategy that begins with gathering intelligence, followed by targeted airstrikes, more robust and better-coordinated support for moderate rebels, and finally, a political reconciliation process. | Enlisting the Sunni neighbors of Syria and Iraq is crucial, experts said, because airstrikes alone will not be enough to vanquish ISIS fighters. The Obama administration is also seeking to pursue a strategy that begins with gathering intelligence, followed by targeted airstrikes, more robust and better-coordinated support for moderate rebels, and finally, a political reconciliation process. |
| Administration officials said amassing support for moderate rebels in Syria was particularly critical. This summer President Obama set aside $500 million to train and support vetted members of the moderate opposition to Mr. Assad. Officials say they expect that Congress will approve that request at the beginning of October. | Administration officials said amassing support for moderate rebels in Syria was particularly critical. This summer President Obama set aside $500 million to train and support vetted members of the moderate opposition to Mr. Assad. Officials say they expect that Congress will approve that request at the beginning of October. |
| But even if the money is approved, American officials will still face obstacles in strengthening the Free Syrian Army, the politically moderate force of choice for the United States. “This is going to take months,” one official said on Friday. | But even if the money is approved, American officials will still face obstacles in strengthening the Free Syrian Army, the politically moderate force of choice for the United States. “This is going to take months,” one official said on Friday. |
| Speaking at the beginning of the meeting on Friday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called the assembled countries the “core coalition” to battle ISIS. But, he added, “I think we’re all quite familiar with the extended challenges this represents.” | Speaking at the beginning of the meeting on Friday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called the assembled countries the “core coalition” to battle ISIS. But, he added, “I think we’re all quite familiar with the extended challenges this represents.” |