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| Obama’s plan to counter Islamic State broadly welcomed in Iraq | Obama’s plan to counter Islamic State broadly welcomed in Iraq |
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| BAGHDAD — President Obama’s plan to expand airstrikes and back the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force to counter extremists from the Islamic State was broadly welcomed in Iraq on Thursday, though some complained that the United States should have been quicker to act against the rapidly expanding threat posed by the militants. | BAGHDAD — President Obama’s plan to expand airstrikes and back the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force to counter extremists from the Islamic State was broadly welcomed in Iraq on Thursday, though some complained that the United States should have been quicker to act against the rapidly expanding threat posed by the militants. |
| Iraqi politicians close to the government said they hoped Obama’s strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State group, as outlined in his speech on Wednesday night, opens the way for a stronger partnership with the United States. | Iraqi politicians close to the government said they hoped Obama’s strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State group, as outlined in his speech on Wednesday night, opens the way for a stronger partnership with the United States. |
| Iraqi political and military leaders have been pushing for decisive U.S. military action since militants seized control of two cities in Iraq’s western province of Anbar eight months ago, but Washington was reluctant to provide support to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose sectarian policies were widely seen as part of the problem. Obama's announcement that he wouldn’t hesitate to hit the al-Qaeda splinter group in locations in both Syria and Iraq followed the creation of a new Iraqi government on Monday. | Iraqi political and military leaders have been pushing for decisive U.S. military action since militants seized control of two cities in Iraq’s western province of Anbar eight months ago, but Washington was reluctant to provide support to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose sectarian policies were widely seen as part of the problem. Obama's announcement that he wouldn’t hesitate to hit the al-Qaeda splinter group in locations in both Syria and Iraq followed the creation of a new Iraqi government on Monday. |
| Secretary of State John F. Kerry made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to congratulate Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on his efforts. | Secretary of State John F. Kerry made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to congratulate Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on his efforts. |
| “We see the combination of Kerry’s visit and Obama’s speech as very positive,” said Saad al-Muttalibi, a parliamentarian from Abadi’s political bloc. “This is an opportunity for real partnership and Iraqis realize that we need a proactive relationship with the United States to face Islamic State,” he said. However, “the world had expected more from the United States” earlier in the crisis, he said. | “We see the combination of Kerry’s visit and Obama’s speech as very positive,” said Saad al-Muttalibi, a parliamentarian from Abadi’s political bloc. “This is an opportunity for real partnership and Iraqis realize that we need a proactive relationship with the United States to face Islamic State,” he said. However, “the world had expected more from the United States” earlier in the crisis, he said. |
| The more than 150 strikes so far have been limited in both their geography and the strategic value of targets. They have been confined to the vicinity of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the country’s north and around key infrastructure. Iraqi officials say they now expect strikes to expand to other areas of the country, including the Baghdad vicinity, which have become flash points of the conflict. | The more than 150 strikes so far have been limited in both their geography and the strategic value of targets. They have been confined to the vicinity of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the country’s north and around key infrastructure. Iraqi officials say they now expect strikes to expand to other areas of the country, including the Baghdad vicinity, which have become flash points of the conflict. |
| “We face so many challenges ahead but the Iraqi people have the will to destroy these terrorist groups, especially now there is Arabian support and international support,” Lt. Gen. Qassim Atta, spokesman for the Iraqi army said in a televised address. “Everybody is focusing on destroying this terrorist enemy which has no religion.” | |
| Obama also threw his weight behind the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force on Wednesday night, part of the Iraqi government's plan to curtail Islamic State by formalizing paramilitary forces. Officials hope the national guard will revive the Awakening Movement, the Sunni tribal forces that fought alongside the Americans against al-Qaeda. But they also plan for the organization to include Kurdish pesh merga fighters and Shiite militias. Guardsmen would serve in their home provinces, preventing sectarian frictions between the security forces and local populations. Abu Azzam al-Tamimi,a government adviser on outreach to Sunni tribes, described the U.S. backing of the project as a “relief”. He said a law is expected to be passed approving the provincial forces within a fortnight, but there are doubts as to whether the Kurds and Shiite militias will capitulate. | Obama also threw his weight behind the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force on Wednesday night, part of the Iraqi government's plan to curtail Islamic State by formalizing paramilitary forces. Officials hope the national guard will revive the Awakening Movement, the Sunni tribal forces that fought alongside the Americans against al-Qaeda. But they also plan for the organization to include Kurdish pesh merga fighters and Shiite militias. Guardsmen would serve in their home provinces, preventing sectarian frictions between the security forces and local populations. Abu Azzam al-Tamimi,a government adviser on outreach to Sunni tribes, described the U.S. backing of the project as a “relief”. He said a law is expected to be passed approving the provincial forces within a fortnight, but there are doubts as to whether the Kurds and Shiite militias will capitulate. |
| Naim al-Abboudi, a spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haqq, a Shiite militia that once battled American troops said his organization was willing to be incorporated. However, he hit back at expanded U.S. airstrikes and Obama’s decision to increase support for more moderate Syrian rebel groups, which he claimed were part of the problem. | Naim al-Abboudi, a spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haqq, a Shiite militia that once battled American troops said his organization was willing to be incorporated. However, he hit back at expanded U.S. airstrikes and Obama’s decision to increase support for more moderate Syrian rebel groups, which he claimed were part of the problem. |
| “If the U.S. wanted to help Iraq they should stop supporting Daish,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the group. “There are also so many neighboring countries supporting Daish and America knows them well.” | “If the U.S. wanted to help Iraq they should stop supporting Daish,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the group. “There are also so many neighboring countries supporting Daish and America knows them well.” |
| Kerry was in Jeddah on Thursday to meet Arab leaders — part of U.S. efforts to build a broad coalition against the Islamic State militants. | Kerry was in Jeddah on Thursday to meet Arab leaders — part of U.S. efforts to build a broad coalition against the Islamic State militants. |
| In Europe, France said on Wednesday that it is willing to participate in airstrikes if necessary. French foreign minister Laurent Fabius called for international unity against “this transnational danger that could reach all the way to our soil,” the Associated Press reported. | In Europe, France said on Wednesday that it is willing to participate in airstrikes if necessary. French foreign minister Laurent Fabius called for international unity against “this transnational danger that could reach all the way to our soil,” the Associated Press reported. |
| The U.K. has not joined the U.S in airstrikes, but it is helping the Iraqi Kurds to fight the Islamic State. It may do more yet. On Wednesday during a debate in Parliament, the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that Britain “must be prepared to intensify our contribution to action against ISIL if the situation demands.” But he also stressed that any decision to partake in airstrikes would first need to be voted on in the House of Commons. | The U.K. has not joined the U.S in airstrikes, but it is helping the Iraqi Kurds to fight the Islamic State. It may do more yet. On Wednesday during a debate in Parliament, the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that Britain “must be prepared to intensify our contribution to action against ISIL if the situation demands.” But he also stressed that any decision to partake in airstrikes would first need to be voted on in the House of Commons. |
| “If we reached the conclusion that joining in American-led air strikes would be the appropriate way to shoulder our share of the burden, then, in accordance with the established practice, we would ensure that the House of Commons had an opportunity to debate and vote on that proposition,” he said. | “If we reached the conclusion that joining in American-led air strikes would be the appropriate way to shoulder our share of the burden, then, in accordance with the established practice, we would ensure that the House of Commons had an opportunity to debate and vote on that proposition,” he said. |
| Mustafa Salim contributed from Baghdad. Karla Adam reported from London. | Mustafa Salim contributed from Baghdad. Karla Adam reported from London. |