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morningfog

(18,115 posts)
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 10:41 PM Jun 2014

Kerry: ISIS Threat Could Hasten (US) Military Action (Might not wait on new Iraqi govt.)

BAGHDAD — Winding up a day of crisis talks with Iraqi leaders, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that the Sunni militants seizing territory in Iraq had become such a threat that the United States might not wait for Iraqi politicians to form a new government before taking military action.

“They do pose a threat,” Mr. Kerry said, referring to the fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. “They cannot be given safe haven anywhere.”

“That’s why, again, I reiterate the president will not be hampered if he deems it necessary if the formation is not complete,” he added, referring to the Iraqi efforts to establish a new multisectarian government that bridges the deep divisions among the majority Shiites and minority Sunnis, Kurds and other smaller groups.

American officials, drawn increasingly back into a struggle that President Obama had sought to end, do not want to be seen as taking sides in a sectarian conflict. They have stressed in recent days that the establishment of an cross-sectarian Iraqi government would make it easier for the United States to provide military support for Iraq, including airstrikes.

***

Within Iraq, American officials say, ISIS has set its sights on destroying the Shiite shrine in Samarra, which would likely lead to an explosion of sectarian violence in Iraq. An attack on the shrine in early 2006 escalated a wave of sectarian killings that was not reduced until the United States troop surge in 2007 and 2008.

“Clearly, everyone understands that Samarra is an important line,” Mr. Kerry said. " Historically, an assault on Samarra created enormous problems in Iraq. That is something that we all do not want to see happen again. And so the president and the team, the entire security team, are watching this movement and these events very, very closely.”

So great are the concerns that Mr. Kerry stressed on Monday that if American action is taken soon — President Obama has said that he is considering airstrikes — it should not be interpreted as a gesture of political support for Mr. Maliki’s Shiite-dominated government, but rather as a strike against the ISIS militants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/world/middleeast/kerry-in-baghdad-to-urge-iraqis-to-form-new-inclusive-government.html?smid=tw-share

Pay attention everyone. The unity government is wanted by the US to give cover to the US military action that is coming. And now, we may not even wait for the government to form. The administration has already said they don't need Congress and now they don't need Iraq. The moment Obama orders airstrikes in Iraq, he takes up Bush's banner of the illegal war.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Kerry: ISIS Threat Could Hasten (US) Military Action (Might not wait on new Iraqi govt.) (Original Post) morningfog Jun 2014 OP
should have known.. misterhighwasted Jun 2014 #1
I got a bad feeling about this pscot Jun 2014 #2
of course Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #3
I see what you are doing there, sKerry. dixiegrrrrl Jun 2014 #4
maliki et al may be too busy looting treasures to take with them when they evacuate nt msongs Jun 2014 #5
I'm really curious fujiyama Jun 2014 #6
If there is an end goal, it's not been stated. morningfog Jun 2014 #7
Dear God we are going the way of the Romans. Endless military adventures, no will Katashi_itto Jun 2014 #8

misterhighwasted

(9,148 posts)
1. should have known..
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 10:54 PM
Jun 2014

The voices of americans who will be on hook for another trillion dollar power grab, are no longer listened to. We are the invisible, the irrelevant.

Puzzledtraveller

(5,937 posts)
3. of course
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:10 PM
Jun 2014

they have most of us where they want us, fawning and docile, willing to give them a pass just because they adore their idol and because they could never admit they may have been wrong about him.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
4. I see what you are doing there, sKerry.
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:13 PM
Jun 2014

Trying to trick us into war step by step.
Just like when YOU were against the Viet Nam war.

Don't you remember?
"Waist deep in the big muddy and the damn fool says press on."

fujiyama

(15,185 posts)
6. I'm really curious
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 11:19 PM
Jun 2014

What is the end goal here? We launch a couple of Tomakawk missiles and then what? I mean, what actionable intelligence is there to launch air strikes? Are there known camp locations? ISIS seems pretty well integrated within the civilian population. How are they to be targeted in the first place?

This just seems like a continuation of policies that have been pursued by three administrations (Clinton, Bush, and Obama) for almost two decades with mixed results at best. Air strikes are preferable to sending ground troops (aside from Cheney and his band of psycho neo cons there is no enthusiasm for such an action) but I'm not convinced they will be effective in the least.

 

morningfog

(18,115 posts)
7. If there is an end goal, it's not been stated.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:35 AM
Jun 2014

The goal could be something as amorphous as simply saving face. It boggles the mind. I really wish my country thought in terms of humanitarian aid rather than war when confronting problems.

 

Katashi_itto

(10,175 posts)
8. Dear God we are going the way of the Romans. Endless military adventures, no will
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:45 AM
Jun 2014

to fix anything at home and a decadent political and oligarchy class.

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