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Obama briefs Congress leaders on fight with IS Obama briefs Congress leaders on fight with IS
(about 2 hours later)
President Barack Obama is meeting Congressional leaders to outline and press his case for an expanded military campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. President Barack Obama has briefed Congressional leaders on his plans for an expanded military campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
He is discussing his strategy with leaders from both parties at the White House. He discussed his strategy with leaders from both parties at the White House.
The talks come ahead of his speech to the nation on Wednesday night. The talks came ahead of a speech on Wednesday night in which he will make a case directly to the American people.
It is not clear whether the president will seek Congressional authorisation for an increased military role. The White House described the meetings as "productive" and said Mr Obama had the authority to act against IS.
Tuesday's meeting with Congressional leaders comes a year after lawmakers blocked Mr Obama's previous plans for missile strikes against Syria. Tuesday's meeting with Congressional leaders came a year after lawmakers blocked Mr Obama's previous plans for missile strikes against Syria.
Since then, the IS jihadist group has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.Since then, the IS jihadist group has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.
In June it declared the creation of a "caliphate" or Islamic state.In June it declared the creation of a "caliphate" or Islamic state.
In the past month, IS militants have beheaded two US journalists in protest against American airstrikes on its forces in Iraq.In the past month, IS militants have beheaded two US journalists in protest against American airstrikes on its forces in Iraq.
Mr Obama has ruled out the possibility of a US ground operation against IS but has signalled he may expand airstrikes to include Syria.Mr Obama has ruled out the possibility of a US ground operation against IS but has signalled he may expand airstrikes to include Syria.
"Over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of [IS]," he said on Sunday. "We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; we're going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, we're going to defeat them.""Over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of [IS]," he said on Sunday. "We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; we're going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, we're going to defeat them."
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Irbil At the White House on Tuesday, he met Democrats Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Republicans John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader.
The Americans are hoping the new government can start pulling Iraq back together, and provide a springboard for a national drive to root out Islamic State militants. That can only work if the Sunni community can be persuaded that that is in their interests. "The president, vice-president and congressional leaders had a productive discussion and the leaders expressed their support for efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy [IS]," the White House said in a statement.
Mr Obama and Mr Abadi agreed on the need for the new government to address the aspirations and legitimate grievances of the Iraqi people - a clear reference to the Sunnis. Their demands include the release of detainees, an end to bombardment of Sunni areas, and a real share of power in Baghdad. The White House said Mr Obama had told the congressional leaders he welcomed action from Congress in support of the effort and pledged "continuing extensive consultation".
The task ahead is clearly massive. Among other things, the Iraqi army is in a state of disarray, and much of the recent fighting has been done by Shia militia, strengthening the element of sectarian civil strife that will have to be eliminated if the IS radicals are to be isolated and crushed, without whole communities being destroyed. But Mr Obama's aides suggested he would not seek new authorisation from Congress for military action.
Legacy of mistrust haunts new Iraqi government "The president told the leaders that he has the authority he needs to take action against [IS] in accordance with the mission he will lay out in his address tomorrow night," the White House said.
While leaders in Congress have made it clear they are not interested in pursuing a vote on military action, some lawmakers have said any airstrikes or military action should be authorised by them. Mr Boehner, one of Mr Obama's chief political adversaries, told the president he would back a US military deployment to train and advise the Iraqi security forces and assist in the targeting of IS leaders, an aide to the House speaker said in a statement to the BBC.
Republican Senator Rand Paul told the website Politico that if Mr Obama does not ask for authorisation, "it would show a disregard for the Constitution, and for the history of our country".
But other lawmakers are more cautious about committing themselves to potentially risky military action, especially with the approach of Congressional mid-term elections in November.
How do you fight Islamic State?How do you fight Islamic State?
Tara McKelvey, BBC News, WashingtonTara McKelvey, BBC News, Washington
Islamic State is cool - for aspiring jihadists. The group's horrific videos of beheadings add to the Islamic State's credibility, making their leaders seem more brutal than al-Qaeda.Islamic State is cool - for aspiring jihadists. The group's horrific videos of beheadings add to the Islamic State's credibility, making their leaders seem more brutal than al-Qaeda.
"They're the ones who are actually doing things," says Humera Khan of Muflehun, an organisation that counters violent extremism."They're the ones who are actually doing things," says Humera Khan of Muflehun, an organisation that counters violent extremism.
In contrast, the US state department's Welcome to the 'Islamic State' land, designed to demonise IS, is un-cool. Graphic and grim, its messages are ironic, written in state-department youth-speak: "Travel is inexpensive, because you won't need a return ticket!"In contrast, the US state department's Welcome to the 'Islamic State' land, designed to demonise IS, is un-cool. Graphic and grim, its messages are ironic, written in state-department youth-speak: "Travel is inexpensive, because you won't need a return ticket!"
It is part of a tradition of public-service campaigns designed to protect people from themselves. One 1960s film about drink driving, The Bottle and the Throttle, uses scary images and stern wording. It became a cult classic.It is part of a tradition of public-service campaigns designed to protect people from themselves. One 1960s film about drink driving, The Bottle and the Throttle, uses scary images and stern wording. It became a cult classic.
Like other well-intentioned films, Welcome to the 'Islamic State' Land comes across as preachy - and may not connect with its audience in the way its creators hoped.Like other well-intentioned films, Welcome to the 'Islamic State' Land comes across as preachy - and may not connect with its audience in the way its creators hoped.
According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, a large majority of the American public views Islamic State as a serious threat to the US and widely supports airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, a large majority of the American public views Islamic State as a serious threat to the US and widely supports airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
About 100 Americans are believed to have joined the militants and the US state department has tried to counter this by making a hard-hitting video that tries to dissuade potential recruits.About 100 Americans are believed to have joined the militants and the US state department has tried to counter this by making a hard-hitting video that tries to dissuade potential recruits.
Mr Obama's press secretary, Josh Earnest, told Politico on Monday the president was hoping for a "buy-in" from Congress.
Meanwhile, France has announced it will host an international conference on Iraq on 15 September and President Francois Hollande will visit the country later this week.Meanwhile, France has announced it will host an international conference on Iraq on 15 September and President Francois Hollande will visit the country later this week.
On Monday, the US hailed the creation of a new government in Iraq as a major milestone and a crucial step toward defeating the militant group.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's cabinet had the "potential to unite all of Iraq's diverse communities".
Posts have been shared between the Shia Arab majority, Sunni Arabs and Kurds.
The US had made the approval of a unity government a condition for increased military assistance.
Mr Kerry is travelling to Saudi Arabia and Jordan this week as part of efforts to build a coalition to confront IS.
Are you in Iraq? What is your reaction to the formation of the new government? Email your stories from the region to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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