• published: 20 Jun 2014
• views: 471

President Barack Obama has said he is sending up to 300 military advisers to help the Iraqi government in its fight against Islamic extremists as a battle over Iraq's biggest refinery continues to rage. Speaking at the White House last night, Mr Obama said he was prepared to take "targeted" military action but stressed that US troops would not return to combat in Iraq. He said additional equipment and up to 300 additional military advisers would be provided to help battle the Islamic extremist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), which has seized large swathes of the country. The contingent will be made up of special forces and will staff joint operations centres for intelligence sharing and planning, officials said. "American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq but we will help Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region and American interests as well," Mr Obama said. The president also said he was sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East and Europe at the weekend for talks with US allies and partners on ways to stabilise the region. A US official added Mr Kerry was "expected to go Iraq soon" to meet Iraqi officials, but did not specify a date. Mr Obama stressed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki needed to take urgent steps to heal Iraq's sectarian rift, but stopped short of calling for him to go, saying: "It's not our job to choose Iraq's leaders." He added: "Above all, Iraqi leaders must rise above their differences and come together around a political plan for Iraq's future." Leading US lawmakers have joined calls for Mr al Maliki to quit as a condition of US help in driving back the Islamic extremists. Sunni tribal chief Sheik Ali Hatem al Suleiman, the emir of the Sunni Dulaim tribe from Anbar province, said Mr Obama could no longer rely on Mr al Maliki to solve the rising insurgency. He said: "I think that most of President Obama's speech, but not all of it, was shallow and didn't address the heart of the matter. "It talked about participation, it talked about a national government, but you can't come to Iraq with a speech that doesn't address the truth of the problem. "And the real problem in Iraq is al Maliki himself.? I don't think Obama's speech addressed the reality of today's Iraq. "You can't rely on him. The man has become paralysed." Mr al Suleiman also criticised Mr Obama's decision to send 300 military advisers to Iraq. "Three hundred advisors just when you withdraw these 300 advisors, Iraq will lose its balance for one reason?" Iraq: Obama To Send 300 Military Advisers Video: US 'Prepared To Launch Airstrikes' Video: Full Obama Statement On Iraq US military advisers will be sent into Iraq to help Iraqi forces U.S. to Send Up to 300 Military Advisers to Iraq Obama on New Military Advisers to Iraq US ready for mly action in Iraq Obama Sending Advisers to Give Iraq Breathing Space Cheney Leads Iraq War Architects Back to Blame Obama Obama to deploy 'up to 300' military advisers to train and assist Iraqi forces Charles Krauthammer: Iraq's self-destruction is Obama's fault Obama announces deployment of 300 military advisers to Iraq Iraq has started counteroffensive Obama wise to act cautiously on Iraq US sending 300 military advisors to Iraq, eyeing airstrikes Iraq presents a stern midterm challenge for Mr. Obama Charles Krauthammer: Abdication has a price Obama ready to send military advisers, not combat troops, to Iraq KRAUTHAMMER: US losing leverage in Iraq Obama ready for 'targeted' military action in Iraq Barack Obama is sending 300 US military advisers to Iraq (AP) Didn't president learn the lessons of Vietnam? Obama sends US military advisers to Iraq as battle rages over refinery Iraq: Obama To Send 300 Military Advisers President sending 300 military advisers to assist Iraqis Obama sends 300 advisers to Iraq More military advisers being sent to Iraq Failure in Iraq: Seven thoughts Obama sending US military advisers to Iraq but insists on no combat troops Obama Sending Advisers to Give Iraq Breathing Space Obama plans to send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq Obama Warns Iran against Stirring Sectarian Tide Obama sends US military advisers to Iraq as battle rages over refinery The price of Obama's neglect Obama: U.S. Prepared To Send Up To 300 Military Advisers To Iraq Back to Iraq: Obama sending military advisers Iraq conflict: U.S. to send as many as 300 military advisers unrest-conflict-and-war,defence-forces,foreign-affairs,world-politics,terrorism,obama-barack,iraq,united-states,Obama Statement On Iraq,Iraq Violence,Barack Obama,New Military Advisers to Iraq,300 Military Advisers to Iraq,US action in Iraq,Obama deploy 300 military,US military action in Iraq,Iraq conflict,Obama sends US military advisers,Iraq Breathing Space,Obama sending US military advisers,battle rages over refinery,Charles Krauthammer,Sunni tribal chief,Sheik Ali Hatem al Suleiman,