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US cites 'very good progress' in effort to build anti-Islamic State coalition US 'encouraged' as UAE and Saudis offer help in coalition attack on Isis
(about 3 hours later)
The White House on Sunday reported “very good progress” in efforts to build a multinational coalition to “degrade and ultimately defeat” the Islamic State (Isis) militants who murdered British aid worker David Haines and two American journalists.The White House on Sunday reported “very good progress” in efforts to build a multinational coalition to “degrade and ultimately defeat” the Islamic State (Isis) militants who murdered British aid worker David Haines and two American journalists.
The secretary of state, John Kerry, said he was “extremely encouraged” by promises of military aid, including ground troops and air strikes, which he said he had received from several countries during his trip through the Middle East to build support. The secretary of state, John Kerry, said he was “extremely encouraged” by promises of military aid, including ground troops and air strikes, which he said he had received from several countries during his trip through the Middle East to build support. States believed to include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have offered to help attack Isis in Syria and Iraq.
Denis McDonough, the White House chief of staff, said he was confident President Barack Obama’s efforts to win Washington lawmakers’ approval for US military resources to be used in support of Syrian forces would be successful. Kerry is to join Iraqi, Arab and other western ministers at a conference in Paris on Monday, to agree ways to support the new Baghdad government in the war against the jihadi group. Arab participation in military action would help give a wider sense of legitimacy to the campaign; UAE aircraft recently bombed Islamist militia targets in Libya from bases in Egypt.
A senior western source told the Guardian, meanwhile, that Saudi Arabia felt so threatened by Isis that it was prepared to act in a frontline role.
“There is a very real possibility that we could have the Saudi air force bombing targets inside Syria,” the source said. “That is a remarkable development, and something the US would be very pleased to see.”
Also on Sunday Denis McDonough, the White House chief of staff, said he was confident President Barack Obama’s efforts to win Washington lawmakers’ approval for US military resources to be used in support of Syrian opposition forces would be successful.
“We are seeing very good progress in Congress, including in the House under the speaker’s [Republican John Boehner] leadership, to make sure that we have the authorities to train and equip those Syrian oppositionists who are fighting [Isis],” McDonough said on Fox News Sunday.“We are seeing very good progress in Congress, including in the House under the speaker’s [Republican John Boehner] leadership, to make sure that we have the authorities to train and equip those Syrian oppositionists who are fighting [Isis],” McDonough said on Fox News Sunday.
McDonough said the world was horrified by the “inhumanity, depravity and barbarity” of recent acts by Isis, including the videotaped beheadings of Haines, an aid worker from Scotland, and the Americans Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff, apparently by the same British jihadist. McDonough said the world was horrified by the “inhumanity, depravity and barbarity” of recent acts by Isis, a Sunni group, including the videotaped beheadings of Haines, an aid worker from Scotland, and the Americans Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff, apparently by the same British jihadist.
He said that while American air strikes that have already taken place in Iraq, and which Obama has said might soon begin in Syria, would weaken Isis, “Iraqi and other boots on the ground” would the key to defeating the terrorists.He said that while American air strikes that have already taken place in Iraq, and which Obama has said might soon begin in Syria, would weaken Isis, “Iraqi and other boots on the ground” would the key to defeating the terrorists.
“To destroy Isil [as Isis is also known] we need to have a force, an anvil against which they will be pushed,” McDonough said on CNN’s State of the Union.“To destroy Isil [as Isis is also known] we need to have a force, an anvil against which they will be pushed,” McDonough said on CNN’s State of the Union.
“It will be a coalition that includes not only our friends in Europe and Asia but also our partners in the region, Muslim states, Sunni states. We’re going to use our unique capabilities, air power, ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and our training ability to make sure Iraqi forces on one side and Syrian opposition forces on the other side of the border can take the fight to Isil.”“It will be a coalition that includes not only our friends in Europe and Asia but also our partners in the region, Muslim states, Sunni states. We’re going to use our unique capabilities, air power, ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and our training ability to make sure Iraqi forces on one side and Syrian opposition forces on the other side of the border can take the fight to Isil.”
McDonough added that Obama would on Tuesday morning discuss coalition building with John R Allen, the retired US army general, formerly commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, whom he picked to coordinate the international effort.McDonough added that Obama would on Tuesday morning discuss coalition building with John R Allen, the retired US army general, formerly commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, whom he picked to coordinate the international effort.
Last Thursday a group of 10 Arab states, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, promised their backing.Last Thursday a group of 10 Arab states, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, promised their backing.
Kerry, speaking from Egypt on the CBS programme Face the Nation, said the US was “putting together the whole package”.Kerry, speaking from Egypt on the CBS programme Face the Nation, said the US was “putting together the whole package”.
“This is a strategy coming together as the coalition comes together and the countries declare what they are prepared to do,” he said. “We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage in military assistance, in actual strikes if that is what it requires.“This is a strategy coming together as the coalition comes together and the countries declare what they are prepared to do,” he said. “We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage in military assistance, in actual strikes if that is what it requires.
“We also have a growing number of people who are prepared to do all the other things. I’ve been extremely encouraged to hear from all of the people that I’ve been meeting with about their readiness and willingness to participate.“We also have a growing number of people who are prepared to do all the other things. I’ve been extremely encouraged to hear from all of the people that I’ve been meeting with about their readiness and willingness to participate.
“People should not think about this effort just in terms of strikes. In fact, as some have pointed out, that alone is not going to resolve this challenge.”“People should not think about this effort just in terms of strikes. In fact, as some have pointed out, that alone is not going to resolve this challenge.”
On Sunday, the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, said he was sending 600 military personnel, including special forces and eight fighter jets, to the United Arab Emirates in readiness for the escalation of what Kerry admitted was the “war” against Isis. On Sunday the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, said he was sending 600 military personnel, including special forces and eight fighter jets, to the United Arab Emirates in readiness for the escalation of what Kerry admitted was the “war” against Isis.
The British prime minister, David Cameron, did not mention air strikes in his response on Sunday to the murder of David Haines. He said the UK would take “action at home and abroad” through a sustained and comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.The British prime minister, David Cameron, did not mention air strikes in his response on Sunday to the murder of David Haines. He said the UK would take “action at home and abroad” through a sustained and comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.
Kerry restated Obama’s promise, made during a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, that no US ground forces would be used in the conflict, but said several other countries, which he would not name, had offered theirs.Kerry restated Obama’s promise, made during a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, that no US ground forces would be used in the conflict, but said several other countries, which he would not name, had offered theirs.
“We’re not looking to put troops on the ground. There are some who have offered to do so, but we are not looking for that at this moment anyway,” he said.“We’re not looking to put troops on the ground. There are some who have offered to do so, but we are not looking for that at this moment anyway,” he said.
He added that the international community should not concentrate too much on his admission that the action against Isis was a “war”.He added that the international community should not concentrate too much on his admission that the action against Isis was a “war”.
“In terms of al-Qaida, we have used the word ‘war’. We are at war with al-Qaida and its affiliates,” he said. “And in the same context if you want to use it, yes, we are at war with [Isis] in that sense. But I think it’s a waste of time to focus on that. Frankly, let’s consider what we have to do to degrade and defeat [Isis].”“In terms of al-Qaida, we have used the word ‘war’. We are at war with al-Qaida and its affiliates,” he said. “And in the same context if you want to use it, yes, we are at war with [Isis] in that sense. But I think it’s a waste of time to focus on that. Frankly, let’s consider what we have to do to degrade and defeat [Isis].”
Congress will vote this week on whether to approve Obama’s request for $500m to help train and equip the Syrian rebels. Boehner said on Thursday he expected the bill to pass. “We only have one commander in chief,” he said. “At this point in time it’s important to give the president what he is asking for.”Congress will vote this week on whether to approve Obama’s request for $500m to help train and equip the Syrian rebels. Boehner said on Thursday he expected the bill to pass. “We only have one commander in chief,” he said. “At this point in time it’s important to give the president what he is asking for.”
Kerry stressed on Sunday that while the US would use the money to support the Syrian rebels, it had no intention of coordinating any action with the country’s government, despite a statement from the deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, that Syria would welcome air strikes and wanted to talk about teaming up.Kerry stressed on Sunday that while the US would use the money to support the Syrian rebels, it had no intention of coordinating any action with the country’s government, despite a statement from the deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, that Syria would welcome air strikes and wanted to talk about teaming up.
“We’re not going to coordinate, it’s not a cooperative effort,” Kerry said on Face the Nation. “We’re going to do what they haven’t done, what they had plenty of opportunity to do, which is to take on [Isis] and to degrade it and eliminate it as a threat.”“We’re not going to coordinate, it’s not a cooperative effort,” Kerry said on Face the Nation. “We’re going to do what they haven’t done, what they had plenty of opportunity to do, which is to take on [Isis] and to degrade it and eliminate it as a threat.”