U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that
the United States will support Iraq’s fight against al-Qaida-linked militants
who have overrun two cities, but won’t send in American troops.
the United States will support Iraq’s fight against al-Qaida-linked militants
who have overrun two cities, but won’t send in American troops.
Kerry said the militants are trying to destabilize
the region and undermine a democratic process in Iraq, and that the U.S. is in
contact with tribal leaders in Anbar province who are standing up to the
terrorists.
the region and undermine a democratic process in Iraq, and that the U.S. is in
contact with tribal leaders in Anbar province who are standing up to the
terrorists.
But, he said, “this is a fight that belongs to
the Iraqis. That is exactly what the president and the world decided some time
ago when we left Iraq, so we are not obviously contemplating returning. We are
not contemplating putting boots on the ground. This is their fight. … We will
help them in their fight, but this fight, in the end, they will have to win and
I am confident they can.”
the Iraqis. That is exactly what the president and the world decided some time
ago when we left Iraq, so we are not obviously contemplating returning. We are
not contemplating putting boots on the ground. This is their fight. … We will
help them in their fight, but this fight, in the end, they will have to win and
I am confident they can.”
Al-Qaida linked gunmen have largely taken over the
cities of Fallujah and Ramadi in an uprising that has been a blow to the
Shiite-led government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bombings in the
Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killed at least 20 people Sunday.
cities of Fallujah and Ramadi in an uprising that has been a blow to the
Shiite-led government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bombings in the
Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killed at least 20 people Sunday.
Anbar, a vast desert area on the borders with Syria
and Jordan, was the heartland of the Sunni insurgency that rose up against
American troops and the Iraqi government after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that
toppled Saddam Hussein.
and Jordan, was the heartland of the Sunni insurgency that rose up against
American troops and the Iraqi government after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that
toppled Saddam Hussein.
In 2004, insurgents in Fallujah killed four
American security contractors, hanging their burned bodies from a bridge.
Ramadi and other cities have remained battlegrounds as sectarian bloodshed has
mounted, with Shiite militias killing Sunnis.
American security contractors, hanging their burned bodies from a bridge.
Ramadi and other cities have remained battlegrounds as sectarian bloodshed has
mounted, with Shiite militias killing Sunnis.
“We are very, very concerned about the efforts
of al-Qaida and the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant, which is affiliated
with al-Qaida, who are trying to assert their authority not just in Iraq, but
in Syria,” Kerry said.
of al-Qaida and the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant, which is affiliated
with al-Qaida, who are trying to assert their authority not just in Iraq, but
in Syria,” Kerry said.
“These are the most dangerous players in that
region. Their barbarism against the civilians in Ramadi and Fallujah and
against Iraqi security forces is on display for everyone in the world to
see.”
region. Their barbarism against the civilians in Ramadi and Fallujah and
against Iraqi security forces is on display for everyone in the world to
see.”
Kerry made the comments as he left Jerusalem for
talks with leaders in Jordan and Saudi Arabia about his Mideast peace-making
efforts after three days of lengthy meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
talks with leaders in Jordan and Saudi Arabia about his Mideast peace-making
efforts after three days of lengthy meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kerry said some progress was made in what he
described as “very serious, very intensive conversations,” but key
hurdles are yet to be overcome.
described as “very serious, very intensive conversations,” but key
hurdles are yet to be overcome.
His talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh covered the peace process, Syria and Iraq.
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh covered the peace process, Syria and Iraq.
After his short stay in Amman, Kerry flew to
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and then took a 30-minute helicopter ride to King
Abdullah’s desert palace.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and then took a 30-minute helicopter ride to King
Abdullah’s desert palace.
The Saudi leader developed an initiative in 2002 in
which the Arab world offered comprehensive peace with Israel in exchange for a
full pullout from all territories it captured in the 1967 Mideast war.
which the Arab world offered comprehensive peace with Israel in exchange for a
full pullout from all territories it captured in the 1967 Mideast war.
The initiative, revolutionary when it was
introduced, has been endorsed by the Arab League and, technically, remains in
effect.
introduced, has been endorsed by the Arab League and, technically, remains in
effect.
“Saudi Arabia’s initiative holds out the
prospect that if the parties could arrive at a peaceful resolution, you could
instantaneously have peace between the 22 Arab nations and 35 Muslim nations,
all of whom have said they will recognize Israel if peace is achieved,”
Kerry said.
prospect that if the parties could arrive at a peaceful resolution, you could
instantaneously have peace between the 22 Arab nations and 35 Muslim nations,
all of whom have said they will recognize Israel if peace is achieved,”
Kerry said.
“Imagine how that changes the dynamics of
travel, of business, of education, of opportunity in this region, of stability.
Imagine what peace could mean for trade and tourism, what it could mean for
developing technology and talent, for job opportunities for the younger
generation, for generations in all of these countries,” Kerry said.
travel, of business, of education, of opportunity in this region, of stability.
Imagine what peace could mean for trade and tourism, what it could mean for
developing technology and talent, for job opportunities for the younger
generation, for generations in all of these countries,” Kerry said.
Kerry said after his meeting with the Saudi leader
that the king said he supported Kerry’s peace efforts and the Abdullah’s
initiative “has been part of the framework that we’ve been piecing
together — both in inspiration and substance.”
that the king said he supported Kerry’s peace efforts and the Abdullah’s
initiative “has been part of the framework that we’ve been piecing
together — both in inspiration and substance.”
Kerry, who arrived in the region Thursday, is
trying to nudge Abbas and Netanyahu closer to a peace pact that would establish
a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
trying to nudge Abbas and Netanyahu closer to a peace pact that would establish
a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The talks have entered an intense phase aimed at
getting the two sides to agree on a framework and provide guidance toward a
final settlement. Reaching a deal on that framework is not expected on this
trip, Kerry’s 10th to the region for peace talks.
getting the two sides to agree on a framework and provide guidance toward a
final settlement. Reaching a deal on that framework is not expected on this
trip, Kerry’s 10th to the region for peace talks.
On another issue roiling the Middle East, Kerry did
not dismiss the idea that Iran could play a constructive role in finding a
resolution to the civil war in Syria, even if Tehran is not a full participant
in a conference on Syria this month in Switzerland.
not dismiss the idea that Iran could play a constructive role in finding a
resolution to the civil war in Syria, even if Tehran is not a full participant
in a conference on Syria this month in Switzerland.
The U.S. has objected to Iran’s participation
because it hasn’t publicly endorsed the principles from an earlier peace
conference that called for a transitional government in Syria, and is backing
militias, including the Iranian-allied Lebanese Hezbollah group that has aided
the troops of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
because it hasn’t publicly endorsed the principles from an earlier peace
conference that called for a transitional government in Syria, and is backing
militias, including the Iranian-allied Lebanese Hezbollah group that has aided
the troops of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
“If Iran doesn’t support that, it’s difficult
to see how they are going to be a ministerial partner in the process,”
Kerry said.
to see how they are going to be a ministerial partner in the process,”
Kerry said.
“Now could they contribute from the sidelines?
Are there ways for them, conceivably, to weigh in? … It may be that there are
ways that that could happen,” Kerry said.
Are there ways for them, conceivably, to weigh in? … It may be that there are
ways that that could happen,” Kerry said.
