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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
(about 3 hours later)
BAGHDAD — President Obama’s plan to expand airstrikes and back the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force to counter 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 the fight against the Islamic State was broadly welcomed in Iraq on Thursday, though some complained that Washington should have acted faster to confront the threat posed by the militants.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office issued a statement praising Obama’s strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State. But the statement also noted that it was the “duty of the Iraqis’’ to defeat the militants with international assistance. Elsewhere, Obama’s strategies were widely interpreted along political lines: Applauded by allies, questioned by some Middle East states and slammed by Western critic Russia.
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 then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose sectarian policies were seen as favoring Iraq’s majority Shiites and alienating Sunnis. Iran, whose proxy militias in Iraq have already joined battles against the Islamic State, described the U.S. coalition as misguided by seeking the aid of Sunni Arab nations that Tehran views as key rivals.
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. In Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office issued a statement praising Obama’s objective to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State. The statement also echoed Obama’s call for Iraqi forces to take the lead in the fight with international assistance.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to congratulate Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on his efforts. Iraqi political and military leaders have been pushing for decisive U.S. military action since militants began to claim important territory earlier this year. But Washington was reluctant to provide support to then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose sectarian policies were seen as favoring Iraq’s majority Shiites and alienating Sunnis.
“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.” Obama described the creation of a new Iraqi government on Monday as part of the “systematic” crackdown on the Islamic State’s strongholds, networks and supply lines.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to congratulate Abadi. Kerry then traveled to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with top Arab envoys.
“We see the combination of Kerry’s visit and Obama’s speech as very positive,” said Saad al-Muttalibi, a lawmaker 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.”
However, “the world had expected more from the United States” earlier in the crisis, he said.However, “the world had expected more from the United States” earlier in the crisis, he said.
The more than 150 airstrikes 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 flashpoints of the conflict. U.S. airstrikes so far have been aimed at preventing the Islamic State advance on the semiautonomous Kurdish region and protecting important infrastructure such as a major dam. Iraqi officials say they now expect strikes to expand to other areas of the country, including areas near Baghdad, which have become flashpoints 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 said airstrikes also could expand into Syria, where the Islamic State has strongholds.
Kurdish officials also wanted a strong commitment from the White House that it would extend the battles against the Islamic State into Syria, where the group has key outposts. Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, a Kurd, said the president’s speech delivered those assurances. “It has to be destroyed,” said Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, a Kurd.
“We’re very pleased about the speech; the tone of the speech and the seriousness of the speech,’’ Talabani said. Obama also threw his weight behind the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force.
Talabani said the Kurds would reject any approach that presumed that the threat from the Islamic radicals could be managed or contained. “It has to be destroyed,” Talabani said. “We have fought this fight on behalf of the rest of the world and we are proud of it, but we are not suicidal.” Officials hope it will revive the Awakening Movement, the Sunni tribal forces that fought alongside the Americans against al-Qaeda.
Obama also threw his weight behind the creation of a new Iraqi national guard force on Wednesday night. 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 approving the provincial forces is expected within two weeks.
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. One major Shiite militia — with ties to Iran — indicated it could join the new guard. Kurds, however, may be far more reluctant to give up the traditional independence of their pesh merga fighters.
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 approving the provincial forces is expected within two weeks, but doubts remain whether the Kurds and Shiite militias will give their support. In Europe, France said Wednesday that it is willing to participate in airstrikes if necessary. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said London “must be prepared to intensify our contribution” in the fight against the Islamic State. But he stressed that any decision to conduct airstrikes would face a vote in Parliament.
Talabani clearly rejected the notion that the pesh merga forces would be incorporated into a National Guard. But 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. Russia, a longtime ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, denounced Obama’s plans. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said any airstrikes in Syria without U.N. backing would be “an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law,’’ according to the Interfax news agency.
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. Syria’s state-run al-Thawra newspaper, which reflects official thinking, warned in a front-page editorial against the expansion of airstrikes in Syria — even though Assad’s government also fears the Islamic State. The editorial called possible U.S.-directed air campaigns in Syria “the first sparks in the region,” according to the Associated Press.
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. Obama has also suggested boosting aid to “moderate” rebels in Syria waging a more than three-year-old civil war seeking to oust Assad. The president of a rebel coalition, Hadi al-Bahra, insisted that the West cannot soften its opposition to Assad and still hope for a “stable and extremist-free region.’’
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said London “must be prepared to intensify our contribution” in the fight against the Islamic State. But he stressed that any decision to conduct airstrikes would face a parliament vote. Egypt’s military-backed leadership also complained the West should broaden its battles against “terrorist threats” to assist in crackdowns of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was ousted from power last year and now facing relentless pressures.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, told Israel Radio in an interview that Israel and the United States would work together to fight against the Islamic State. In Tehran, the international alliance against the Islamic State was described as falling short for including Sunni Arab powers such as Saudi Arabia. Iran accuses Saudi Arabia and others of backing Islamist factions at odds with Shiite Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment on Obama’s speech, but is expected to later today during an address at a summit on counter-terrorism. “There are severe misgivings about [the U.S.-led] determination to sincerely fight the root causes of terrorism,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham.
Iran’s role in helping confront the Islamic State also could be complicated by Israel’s assistance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was playing its part in helping Obama’s coalition.
“Some of the things we are doing are known and some of the things are less known,” he told a global counterterrorism summit in Israel.
Loveday.Morris@washpost.comLoveday.Morris@washpost.com
Mustafa Salim contributed from Baghdad. Karla Adam reported from London. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad, Karla Adam in London, Abigail Hauslohner in Cairo, Liz Sly in Beirut and Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.