The United States continues to conduct defensive military operations against ISIL militant targets in Iraq. The broader question that has not been defined by the administration is what is our ultimate strategic goal?
On Saturday, President Obama issued a statement regarding the situation in Iraq. “First, American forces have conducted targeted airstrikes against terrorist forces outside the city of Erbil to prevent ISIL from advancing on the city and to protect our American diplomats and military personnel.”
The president continued, “Second, our humanitarian effort continues to help the men, women and children stranded on Mount Sinjar. American forces have so far conducted two successful airdrops — delivering thousands of meals and gallons of water to these desperate men, women and children. And American aircraft are positioned to strike ISIL terrorists around the mountain to help forces in Iraq break the siege and rescue those who are trapped there.”
In a question and answer period with the press one statement stood out when the president stated, “I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks.” This ambiguous statement had many wondering if this military campaign will be open-ended or will lead to greater U.S. involvement in Iraq.
The other question, which never received any follow up questions by the media, is how to ensure a more inclusive Iraqi government that respects all parties? This one has never been fully articulated by the president.
In his statement Obama mentioned, “We continue to call on Iraqis to come together and form the inclusive government that Iraq needs right now. Vice President Biden has been speaking to Iraqi leaders, and our team in Baghdad is in close touch with the Iraqi government.”
What strategy is the president pursuing in leveraging the Iraqi government to be more inclusive, as long as Iraq’s embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is in charge?
Currently, rival leaders in Baghdad have been pressuring him to step aside. Iraq’s new president chose Shiite politician Haider al-Abadi to be the new Iraqi prime minister, thus forcing al-Maliki aside. Unfortunately, Al-Maliki is resisting his ouster, but what strategy will the U.S. pursue if he continues to be deviant thus instigating a governmental crisis.
What strategy is the president contemplating for Syria as now both Iraq and Syria are intertwined with ISIL.
There is still a lot of uncertainty in the president’s Iraq policy, and for that matter his Middle East strategy.
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