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Martin O'Malley: Obama should do more to arm Kurdish forces against Isis Martin O'Malley: US should 'probably' arm Kurdish forces against Isis
(35 minutes later)
Martin O’Malley on Thursday appeared to differ from the Obama administration on a key question of Middle East policy.Martin O’Malley on Thursday appeared to differ from the Obama administration on a key question of Middle East policy.
Related: Martin O'Malley brings up Benghazi as he makes foreign policy pitchRelated: Martin O'Malley brings up Benghazi as he makes foreign policy pitch
In Iowa on Thursday, in response to a question from the Guardian about whether the White House should take further steps towards arming Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, the former Maryland governor and 2016 Democratic candidate said: “Probably, yes.”In Iowa on Thursday, in response to a question from the Guardian about whether the White House should take further steps towards arming Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, the former Maryland governor and 2016 Democratic candidate said: “Probably, yes.”
The Obama administration has long hesitated over directly arming Kurdish militias in the north of Iraq, for fear of further aggravating sectarian tensions.The Obama administration has long hesitated over directly arming Kurdish militias in the north of Iraq, for fear of further aggravating sectarian tensions.
In testimony to Congress earlier this month, the secretary of defense, Ashton Carter, said: “When we provide arms to the Kurds we do it with the consent of the Iraqi government in order to indicate that we support the idea of a single Iraqi government in Baghdad.”In testimony to Congress earlier this month, the secretary of defense, Ashton Carter, said: “When we provide arms to the Kurds we do it with the consent of the Iraqi government in order to indicate that we support the idea of a single Iraqi government in Baghdad.”
Turkey, a significant regional partner of the US, has long been wary of any effort to arm Kurdish militias.Turkey, a significant regional partner of the US, has long been wary of any effort to arm Kurdish militias.
Doug Wilson, a top foreign policy adviser to O’Malley, made clear that the candidate “was not unilaterally proposing that we step up additional arms to the Kurds”. Instead, Wilson said, O’Malley would only do so “if it was determined by the US military that it was appropriate to up the arms to the Kurds”.Doug Wilson, a top foreign policy adviser to O’Malley, made clear that the candidate “was not unilaterally proposing that we step up additional arms to the Kurds”. Instead, Wilson said, O’Malley would only do so “if it was determined by the US military that it was appropriate to up the arms to the Kurds”.
O’Malley, who in polls of the Democratic field for 2016 is some way behind frontrunner Hillary Clinton and second-place Bernie Sanders, has rarely deviated significantly from the Obama administration on foreign policy. His initial reaction to the Iran nuclear deal, for example, was relatively positive.O’Malley, who in polls of the Democratic field for 2016 is some way behind frontrunner Hillary Clinton and second-place Bernie Sanders, has rarely deviated significantly from the Obama administration on foreign policy. His initial reaction to the Iran nuclear deal, for example, was relatively positive.
O’Malley told reporters on Tuesday: “I still haven’t reviewed the agreement, but I am of the belief that a negotiated agreement, provided it’s verifiable and enforceable, is the best path to a nuclear-free Iran. So I think that the initial news is promising.”O’Malley told reporters on Tuesday: “I still haven’t reviewed the agreement, but I am of the belief that a negotiated agreement, provided it’s verifiable and enforceable, is the best path to a nuclear-free Iran. So I think that the initial news is promising.”
In response to a question from the Guardian on Thursday, O’Malley refused to follow some opponents of the deal and criticize the White House for leaving four Americans held captive in Iran.In response to a question from the Guardian on Thursday, O’Malley refused to follow some opponents of the deal and criticize the White House for leaving four Americans held captive in Iran.
“I understand why the president and his negotiating team in their judgment would want to have their negotiations concluded which were complicated enough in a siloed basis,” O’Malley said.“I understand why the president and his negotiating team in their judgment would want to have their negotiations concluded which were complicated enough in a siloed basis,” O’Malley said.
He added: “I think all of us are right to demand that our government continue to advocate for the release of those Americans in Iran.”He added: “I think all of us are right to demand that our government continue to advocate for the release of those Americans in Iran.”