The Obama administration moved on Thursday to secure military and
financial backing from Arab leaders, European allies and the US Congress for
the president’s new strategy for defeating Islamist extremists in
Iraq and Syria.
Ten Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, announced during a visit by
John Kerry, secretary of state, that they would join the US in a strategy to
destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, “wherever it
is, including in both Iraq and Syria”.
·
IN US POLITICS & POLICY
US attorney-general Holder to step downCalls for US vote on
Syria air strikesUS hands foreign companies tax advantageUS attorney general
Holder to step down
The US received early support from France and Germany, and also
the UK, although contradictory statements in London left the full extent of
Britain’s participation unclear.
Administration officials briefed members of Congress ahead of a
vote, expected next week, to approve extra funding to train so-called moderate
Syrian rebels to help in the fight.
The administration believes it needs clear political backing at
home and the support of Sunni regimes in the region to prevent Isis from
framing the conflict as a clash between Islam and the West. “We [cannot] take
the place of Arab nations in securing their region,” Mr Obama said in a prime time speech to the nation on
Wednesday evening.
Mr Obama said the US would broaden its air attacks against Isis
forces in Iraq and was ready to conduct air strikes against the group across
the border in Syria.
John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the House of
Representatives, indicated he would support a vote to fund the Syrian rebels
but added that he and his members were not yet satisfied about the
administration’s explanation of its strategy.
“An F16 is not a strategy – air strikes alone will not accomplish
what we are trying to accomplish,” he said. Mr Boehner suggested more might
have to be done, saying that “we are just at the beginning stage”.
US officials are also looking for practical backing including
money, access to bases and overflight permission for US aircraft. Saudi Arabia
has agreed to host an expanded training initiative – a sign that some of the
ill feeling between the US and its Saudi allies over the past year has
dissipated in the face of the rise of Isis.
After securing support from 10 western nations at last week’s Nato
summit for the campaign against Isis, the US is fleshing out the practical
terms of that support.
Washington received a boost when France said for the first time it
would join air strikes against the militants. France, which has already
supplied arms to Kurdish forces combating Isis, would also give military and
humanitarian help to the new Iraqi government, said Laurent Fabius, foreign
minister.
France stayed out of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 but has
adopted a hawkish stance against both Isis and the Syrian regime of President
Bashar al-Assad.
German politicians on Wednesday indicated they would also assist
the effort, potentially by supplying surveillance planes and other equipment.
Britain’s planned participation remained somewhat confused after
foreign secretary Philip Hammond ruled out taking part in air strikes in Syria,
only for a spokesman for David Cameron to counter that Britain had not ruled
out action against Isis on either side of the border.
Alexander Lukashevich, spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry,
said on Thursday that it would be a violation of international law for the US
to conduct air strikes in Syria without a mandate from the UN Security Council.
Mr Obama plans to present the plans for a US-led international
coalition against Isis at a special session of the security council later this
month.
Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East expert at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that solidarity between
the US, Europe and Arab countries was necessary to prevent Russia playing a
“spoiler role” in the conflict.
The president’s speech was broadly welcomed by US politicians who
had been urging Mr Obama to take a more forceful stand against Isis. “I’m glad
the President has brought a new focus to the effort,” said Mitch McConnell, the
Republican leader in the Senate. “He needs to take this responsibility head
on.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment