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| Obama Says He Will Decide on Military Support for Iraq in ‘Days Ahead’ | Obama Says He Will Decide on Military Support for Iraq in ‘Days Ahead’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that he would make a decision “in the days ahead” about whether to use American military power to help the besieged Iraqi government stave off collapse at the hands of Islamist insurgents, but he ruled out using ground forces. | WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that he would make a decision “in the days ahead” about whether to use American military power to help the besieged Iraqi government stave off collapse at the hands of Islamist insurgents, but he ruled out using ground forces. |
| “This poses a danger to Iraq and its people and, given the nature of these terrorists, it could pose a threat eventually to American interests as well,” Mr. Obama said of the offensive now threatening Baghdad. “We will not be sending U.S. troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options.” | “This poses a danger to Iraq and its people and, given the nature of these terrorists, it could pose a threat eventually to American interests as well,” Mr. Obama said of the offensive now threatening Baghdad. “We will not be sending U.S. troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options.” |
| The president cautioned against expecting quick action, saying the planning would take “several days” to make sure any airstrikes were effective. | The president cautioned against expecting quick action, saying the planning would take “several days” to make sure any airstrikes were effective. |
| “People should not anticipate this is something that is going to happen overnight,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have good eyes on the situation there. We want to make sure we’ve gathered all the intelligence that is necessary so that if I do order action” it will be precise and direct. | “People should not anticipate this is something that is going to happen overnight,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have good eyes on the situation there. We want to make sure we’ve gathered all the intelligence that is necessary so that if I do order action” it will be precise and direct. |
| Mr. Obama, in a televised statement before he boarded Marine One to begin a trip to North Dakota and California, emphasized that the problem was not just a short-term threat to the Iraqi government but also a long-term failure by Baghdad leaders to achieve political reconciliation across sectarian lines. He warned Iraqi leaders that if they want American help, they have to come up with a plan to accommodate minority factions in a meaningful way. | Mr. Obama, in a televised statement before he boarded Marine One to begin a trip to North Dakota and California, emphasized that the problem was not just a short-term threat to the Iraqi government but also a long-term failure by Baghdad leaders to achieve political reconciliation across sectarian lines. He warned Iraqi leaders that if they want American help, they have to come up with a plan to accommodate minority factions in a meaningful way. |
| “The United States is not simply going to involve itself in a military action in the absence of a political plan by the Iraqis that gives us some assurance that they’re prepared to work together,” he said. “We’re not going to allow ourselves to be dragged back into a situation in which while we’re there we’re keeping a lid on things” but the political leaders fail to address the underlying fissures dividing Iraqi society. | |
| Mr. Obama said he would “consult with Congress” about possible airstrikes in Iraq, but he did not say whether he would seek a vote by lawmakers as he did last fall when he was contemplating airstrikes against Syria in retaliation for the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. | Mr. Obama said he would “consult with Congress” about possible airstrikes in Iraq, but he did not say whether he would seek a vote by lawmakers as he did last fall when he was contemplating airstrikes against Syria in retaliation for the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. |
| In this case, the original congressional authorization for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 has never expired, so he would have a different legal basis than he had with Syria. | In this case, the original congressional authorization for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 has never expired, so he would have a different legal basis than he had with Syria. |
| Although he did not mention it, CNN reported that the Pentagon was moving an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. George H. W. Bush, to the area. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in London earlier in the day, said that “given the gravity of the situation, I would anticipate timely decisions from the president regarding the challenge.” | Although he did not mention it, CNN reported that the Pentagon was moving an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. George H. W. Bush, to the area. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in London earlier in the day, said that “given the gravity of the situation, I would anticipate timely decisions from the president regarding the challenge.” |
| While Mr. Obama ruled out reinserting ground troops, even airstrikes would represent a significant turnaround for a president who was elected in part because of his early opposition to the Iraq war and who, once he took office, made pulling out American troops his top foreign policy priority. | While Mr. Obama ruled out reinserting ground troops, even airstrikes would represent a significant turnaround for a president who was elected in part because of his early opposition to the Iraq war and who, once he took office, made pulling out American troops his top foreign policy priority. |
| The president spoke moments before leaving the White House for a scheduled four-day trip to North Dakota and California. He and the first lady, Michelle Obama, were to visit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation in Cannon Ball, N.D., on Friday afternoon before heading to Palm Springs, Calif., where they were planning a relaxed weekend. Aides would not say whether the schedule might change. | The president spoke moments before leaving the White House for a scheduled four-day trip to North Dakota and California. He and the first lady, Michelle Obama, were to visit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation in Cannon Ball, N.D., on Friday afternoon before heading to Palm Springs, Calif., where they were planning a relaxed weekend. Aides would not say whether the schedule might change. |
| Mr. Obama has come under criticism from Republican lawmakers, who say that he should have worked harder to persuade Iraq to let him leave a small residual American force after the United States pulled out of the country at the end of 2011, and that he has neglected the burgeoning political crisis there. | Mr. Obama has come under criticism from Republican lawmakers, who say that he should have worked harder to persuade Iraq to let him leave a small residual American force after the United States pulled out of the country at the end of 2011, and that he has neglected the burgeoning political crisis there. |
| Representative Howard (Buck) McKeon of California, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the president should be thinking about a more extensive response than a momentary airstrike. | Representative Howard (Buck) McKeon of California, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the president should be thinking about a more extensive response than a momentary airstrike. |
| “The White House has a history of ‘considering all options’ while choosing none,” Mr. McKeon said in a written statement. “There are no quick-fix solutions to this crisis, and I will not support a one-shot strike that looks good for the cameras but has no enduring effect.” | “The White House has a history of ‘considering all options’ while choosing none,” Mr. McKeon said in a written statement. “There are no quick-fix solutions to this crisis, and I will not support a one-shot strike that looks good for the cameras but has no enduring effect.” |
| Instead, he said the president needed “a new strategy for our regional engagement” and should replace his advisers. “The president should also ask himself if his White House national security team is equal to the crisis at hand,” Mr. McKeon said. “I don’t believe they are.” | Instead, he said the president needed “a new strategy for our regional engagement” and should replace his advisers. “The president should also ask himself if his White House national security team is equal to the crisis at hand,” Mr. McKeon said. “I don’t believe they are.” |