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Kerry in Iraq to congratulate new premier, build alliance against Islamic State Kerry in Iraq to congratulate new premier, build alliance against Islamic State
(about 4 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John F. Kerry came to Iraq on Wednesday to congratulate a new Iraq government on which the United States is basing much of its emerging strategy to counter Islamic State militants.BAGHDAD — Secretary of State John F. Kerry came to Iraq on Wednesday to congratulate a new Iraq government on which the United States is basing much of its emerging strategy to counter Islamic State militants.
Kerry will meet with new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other senior officials. His visit is timed to precede President Obama’s speech Wednesday evening laying out the multi-pronged plan to confront militants who have seized large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory with stunning speed and battlefield prowess. Kerry met with new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other senior officials. His visit is timed to precede President Obama’s speech Wednesday evening laying out a multi-pronged plan to confront militants who have seized large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory with stunning speed and battlefield prowess.
The Obama administration is relieved that Abadi edged out former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who never heeded Washington’s warnings that he must share power with Sunnis and Kurds or risk his country’s disintegration. Abadi has pledged to govern with genuine inclusivity, though many international observers and Iraqi Sunni leaders have doubts. Abadi told Kerry that the threat from Islamic State militants is growing.
Kerry will herald the peaceful transition of power in Baghdad this week, as Abadi met a deadline to form a new cabinet and Maliki stepped aside, aides said. He is also applying new pressure to Abadi, a Shiite like Maliki, to abide by his promises and move swiftly to position his government to combat the Sunni militants. “It’s mobilizing an international network,” drawing funding and foreign fighters to their cause, Abadi said following a meeting with Kerry.
“The secretary will be talking about Iraq’s role, obviously, which will have a critical role in this effort to have a global coalition to begin to degrade and ultimately defeat,” the militants, a senior State Department official said. “We are fighting these people,” Abadi said. “They are a challenge to the whole region, to the international community.” He appealed for more and immediate international help.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview Kerry’s agenda. “This cancer is threatening the whole region, and we have the resolution to fight,” Abadi continued.
The Obama administration is already running air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq at the request of the Baghdad government. Washington is edging toward a broader assault, as Obama will discuss later Wednesday, but insists it is not a return to an American war in the Middle East. Kerry congratulated Abadi warmly and praised his early work to revamp the cabinet and address ways to more equitably share oil revenues across the country, a long-standing U.S. demand that went unmet by Abadi’s predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki.
“We’re very encouraged by the comments you’ve made here today and by your commitment to do this,” Kerry said. “I’m grateful to you, and as I told you the president will lay out tonight a more detailed description of exactly what the United States is prepared to do together with many other countries” to defeat the Islamic State.
Kerry also praised Abadi’s plans to reinvigorate the Iraqi military to better fight the militants. U.S. advisers were shocked and disappointed by the poor performance of Iraqi units as the militants easily took towns and cities across northern Iraq and along the long border with Syria.
The Obama administration is relieved that Abadi edged out Maliki, who never heeded Washington’s warnings that he must share power with Sunnis and Kurds or risk his country’s disintegration. Abadi has pledged to govern with genuine inclusivity, though many international observers and Iraqi Sunni leaders have doubts. Both Abadi and Maliki are members of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority.
The United States is already conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq at the request of the Baghdad government. Washington is edging toward a broader assault, as Obama will discuss later Wednesday, but insists it is not a return to an American war in the Middle East.
The new Iraq government is a cornerstone of the strategy, as American officials say they finally have a partner who can marshal Sunni support and look beyond his own narrow sectarian interests.The new Iraq government is a cornerstone of the strategy, as American officials say they finally have a partner who can marshal Sunni support and look beyond his own narrow sectarian interests.
The U.S. plan relies on that broader base of support as a firmer foundation for Iraq to fight the militants, with help from a coalition of nations Kerry will help line up during stops this week in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. The U.S. plan relies on that broader base of support as a firmer foundation for Iraq to fight the militants, with help from a coalition of nations that Kerry will help line up during stops this week in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
Washington has conditioned some military aid and other support on an inclusive government, and Obama is expected to announce additional help for the new government Wednesday.Washington has conditioned some military aid and other support on an inclusive government, and Obama is expected to announce additional help for the new government Wednesday.
Washington is encouraged by Abadi’s plan to loosen the central Shiite-led Baghdad government hold on security matters, long an irritant in Sunni areas. Some expanded international help for the new government is expected to further his plan to establish Iraqi national guard forces that answer to provincial governors. Washington is encouraged by Abadi’s plan to loosen the central Shiite-led Baghdad government’s hold on security matters, long an irritant in Sunni areas. Some expanded international help for the new government is expected to further his plan to establish Iraqi national guard forces that answer to provincial governors.
“The visit comes under circumstances in which there are real opportunities,” the State Department official said. “The visit comes under circumstances in which there are real opportunities,” a senior State Department official said, citing “a real shake-up in the cabinet” and a chance for progress on key issues that have bedeviled Iraqi leaders for the past eight years.
“The peaceful transition of power. And a real shake-up in the cabinet and key portfolios of issues that have bedeviled the leaders and that there hasn’t been much progress on in eight years — there is a chance,” now, the official said. The official added that the Obama administration is not naive about the challenges for Abadi or the new coalition supporting him.
The official added that the administration is not naive about the challenges for Abadi or the new coalition supporting him.
“This is going to be extremely, extremely difficult. The problems that are confronting Iraq are incredibly challenging,” the official said.“This is going to be extremely, extremely difficult. The problems that are confronting Iraq are incredibly challenging,” the official said.