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/2014/09/11/world/middleeast/kerry-iraq-isis-strategy.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
John Kerry Arrives in Iraq for Talks on ISIS U.S. Ready to Train Iraqi Security Forces to Fight ISIS, Kerry Says
(34 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that Iraqi leaders had made sufficient political progress to warrant joint United States-Iraqi action against the Sunni militants who have seized much of northern and western Iraq, and indicated that the United States was now prepared to help train Iraq’s security forces.BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that Iraqi leaders had made sufficient political progress to warrant joint United States-Iraqi action against the Sunni militants who have seized much of northern and western Iraq, and indicated that the United States was now prepared to help train Iraq’s security forces.
“We stand by Iraq,” Mr. Kerry said after a whirlwind series of meetings with the Iraqi government’s new leaders. “And we stand by them as they fight to overcome their single greatest threat.”“We stand by Iraq,” Mr. Kerry said after a whirlwind series of meetings with the Iraqi government’s new leaders. “And we stand by them as they fight to overcome their single greatest threat.”
The United States carried out airstrikes on ISIS targets in northern Iraq last month, but Mr. Kerry, like other Obama administration officials, ruled out the addition of American combat troops. He said the United States, along with other nations, would help train and rebuild the Iraqi military.The United States carried out airstrikes on ISIS targets in northern Iraq last month, but Mr. Kerry, like other Obama administration officials, ruled out the addition of American combat troops. He said the United States, along with other nations, would help train and rebuild the Iraqi military.
He also highlighted the Iraqis’ decision to create new national guard units that would be recruited locally and given the main responsibility for security in their home areas; they are also likely to require foreign assistance.He also highlighted the Iraqis’ decision to create new national guard units that would be recruited locally and given the main responsibility for security in their home areas; they are also likely to require foreign assistance.
The Shiite-led government of the former prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, left many Iraqi Sunnis and Kurds feeling disenfranchised. As it sought support among Sunnis for its goal of creating a Muslim caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq, ISIS exploited those sectarian tensions, which had been aggravated by Mr. Maliki’s government. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said in Paris on Wednesday that his country was ready to take part in airstrikes against ISIS if needed, The Associated Press reported. Mr. Fabius called for international mobilization against “this transnational danger that could reach all the way to our soil,” the agency quoted him as saying. France is scheduled to host an international conference on Monday to discuss how to stop ISIS and assist Iraq.
The Shiite-led government of the former Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, left many Sunni Arabs and Kurds in the country feeling disenfranchised. As it sought support among Sunnis for its goal of creating a Muslim caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq, ISIS exploited those sectarian tensions, which had been aggravated by Mr. Maliki’s government.
The Obama administration has made the formation of an inclusive Iraqi government a precondition for expanded security assistance to Baghdad in its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Sunni militant group that has overrun much of the country since June.The Obama administration has made the formation of an inclusive Iraqi government a precondition for expanded security assistance to Baghdad in its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Sunni militant group that has overrun much of the country since June.
Some Sunni tribal leaders and Kurdish officials have expressed skepticism in recent weeks about the prospects for genuine power sharing, and some important pieces of the political puzzle have yet to be filled in, including the selection of the defense and interior ministers.Some Sunni tribal leaders and Kurdish officials have expressed skepticism in recent weeks about the prospects for genuine power sharing, and some important pieces of the political puzzle have yet to be filled in, including the selection of the defense and interior ministers.
But in public remarks before their one-on-one meeting, Mr. Kerry and Haider al-Abadi, the new Shiite prime minister, said the requirement for inclusivity was being met.But in public remarks before their one-on-one meeting, Mr. Kerry and Haider al-Abadi, the new Shiite prime minister, said the requirement for inclusivity was being met.
“Everybody is on board,” Mr. Abadi said in fluent English, referring to Iraq’s often disputatious Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish populations.“Everybody is on board,” Mr. Abadi said in fluent English, referring to Iraq’s often disputatious Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish populations.
Mr. Kerry met with Mr. Abadi in the same vast and ornate palace that the United States used as its political headquarters during its occupation of Iraq and that now serves as an office for the new Iraqi prime minister. “We are very encouraged,” Mr. Kerry said.Mr. Kerry met with Mr. Abadi in the same vast and ornate palace that the United States used as its political headquarters during its occupation of Iraq and that now serves as an office for the new Iraqi prime minister. “We are very encouraged,” Mr. Kerry said.
Mr. Kerry also met with Fuad Masum, the Kurd who is Iraq’s new president, and Salim al-Jubouri, a Sunni and the speaker of Parliament. Under an informal political bargain forged after the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the Iraqi presidency is held by a Kurd, the speaker of Parliament is a Sunni Arab and the position of prime minister, the most powerful post, goes to a Shiite.Mr. Kerry also met with Fuad Masum, the Kurd who is Iraq’s new president, and Salim al-Jubouri, a Sunni and the speaker of Parliament. Under an informal political bargain forged after the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the Iraqi presidency is held by a Kurd, the speaker of Parliament is a Sunni Arab and the position of prime minister, the most powerful post, goes to a Shiite.
American officials had promoted the establishment of locally recruited national guard units as a major initiative to roll back ISIS’s gains in Iraq.American officials had promoted the establishment of locally recruited national guard units as a major initiative to roll back ISIS’s gains in Iraq.
In an echo of the Sunni Awakening program, in which Iraqi tribes made common cause with American forces during the occupation to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq, some of the national guard units would be draw from local tribes.In an echo of the Sunni Awakening program, in which Iraqi tribes made common cause with American forces during the occupation to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq, some of the national guard units would be draw from local tribes.
But in one major difference, the national guard soldiers would formally be part of Iraq’s security structure and would be trained on Iraqi military bases. Reporting to local governors, they would also receive salaries and pensions from the government.But in one major difference, the national guard soldiers would formally be part of Iraq’s security structure and would be trained on Iraqi military bases. Reporting to local governors, they would also receive salaries and pensions from the government.
The plan is intended to rebuild the fighting capability the Iraqi government lost after many of its soldiers deserted or quit fighting in the face of ISIS’s onslaught.The plan is intended to rebuild the fighting capability the Iraqi government lost after many of its soldiers deserted or quit fighting in the face of ISIS’s onslaught.
The decentralization of security responsibilities is also intended to ease sectarian tensions by giving Sunnis more control over their own affairs and reducing the need for a largely Shiite army to be deployed on their territory.The decentralization of security responsibilities is also intended to ease sectarian tensions by giving Sunnis more control over their own affairs and reducing the need for a largely Shiite army to be deployed on their territory.
It would also replace the ad hoc arrangements for paying Awakening members that eventually led to the initiative’s demise.It would also replace the ad hoc arrangements for paying Awakening members that eventually led to the initiative’s demise.
“The people of Anbar will take on ISIL,” a senior State Department official told reporters traveling with Mr. Kerry, using an alternative name for ISIS. “The people of Nineveh will take on ISIL in Nineveh, and they will have assistance from the national army when they need it.“The people of Anbar will take on ISIL,” a senior State Department official told reporters traveling with Mr. Kerry, using an alternative name for ISIS. “The people of Nineveh will take on ISIL in Nineveh, and they will have assistance from the national army when they need it.
“One thing Abadi has said repeatedly,” the official added, “is that he is not going to use military units from the south and go into areas in the north and west” to fight ISIS.“One thing Abadi has said repeatedly,” the official added, “is that he is not going to use military units from the south and go into areas in the north and west” to fight ISIS.
But the plan still requires assistance from the United States and other nations in training and advising the Iraqi military forces who would back up the local guard units. And it requires a major effort to enlist Sunnis, persuade them to pledge allegiance to the Iraqi government, and equip and train them so they would be a credible fighting force.But the plan still requires assistance from the United States and other nations in training and advising the Iraqi military forces who would back up the local guard units. And it requires a major effort to enlist Sunnis, persuade them to pledge allegiance to the Iraqi government, and equip and train them so they would be a credible fighting force.
In a news conference before departing Baghdad, Mr. Kerry said the United States was not coordinating its military actions in Iraq with Iran.In a news conference before departing Baghdad, Mr. Kerry said the United States was not coordinating its military actions in Iraq with Iran.
Pressed to explain why Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders could not overcome years of differences over revenue sharing, oil policy and the role of former members of Mr. Hussein’s Baath Party, Mr. Kerry insisted that they had learned to cooperate.Pressed to explain why Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders could not overcome years of differences over revenue sharing, oil policy and the role of former members of Mr. Hussein’s Baath Party, Mr. Kerry insisted that they had learned to cooperate.
“Every single leader that I talked to,” he said, “affirmed that they had learned lessons in the last years.”“Every single leader that I talked to,” he said, “affirmed that they had learned lessons in the last years.”
Iraq is just the first stop for Mr. Kerry on his travels in the Middle East and Europe to try to line up support for the fight against ISIS.Iraq is just the first stop for Mr. Kerry on his travels in the Middle East and Europe to try to line up support for the fight against ISIS.
Mr. Kerry will also be meeting in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday evening with King Abdullah. And he will be traveling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, where Saudi and other Arab officials are gathering to discuss how to respond to the ISIS threat.Mr. Kerry will also be meeting in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday evening with King Abdullah. And he will be traveling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, where Saudi and other Arab officials are gathering to discuss how to respond to the ISIS threat.
Mr. Kerry also plans to attend an international conference on Iraq that is being convened in Paris early next week.Mr. Kerry also plans to attend an international conference on Iraq that is being convened in Paris early next week.