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Kerry, in Saudi Arabia, Talks Strategy With Arab Leaders Kerry, in Saudi Arabia, Presses Arab States to Speak Out and Act Against ISIS
(about 5 hours later)
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — Secretary of State John Kerry plunged into an intensive series of meetings here with Arab officials on Thursday to coordinate strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — Secretary of State John Kerry plunged into an intensive series of meetings here with Arab officials on Thursday to coordinate strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The meetings are being hosted by Saudi Arabia, which has agreed to provide bases for the training of moderate Syrian rebels who are battling the Sunni militants and the Assad government in Damascus. The meetings are being hosted by Saudi Arabia, which has agreed to provide bases for the training of moderate Syrian rebels who are battling the Sunni militants and the Assad government in Damascus, the Syrian capital.
The talks will also include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq.The talks will also include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq.
Mr. Kerry began his discussions Thursday with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, who used a cane as he walked to greet the secretary of state at the jetway to his plane. Mr. Kerry was scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening.Mr. Kerry began his discussions Thursday with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, who used a cane as he walked to greet the secretary of state at the jetway to his plane. Mr. Kerry was scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening.
The Obama administration is eager for the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, to be perceived as a broad international effort that includes prominent Sunni states, rather than as a clash of civilizations that pits the United States against radical Islam. Mr. Kerry was expected to ask the Arab states to step up their condemnations of ISIS and of Islamic extremists. The Obama administration is eager for the campaign against ISIS to be perceived as a broad international effort that includes prominent Sunni states, rather than as a clash of civilizations that pits the United States against radical Islam. Mr. Kerry is expected to ask the Arab states to step up their condemnations of ISIS and of Islamic extremists.
“He’s also going to ask them to use their nationally owned media, and in two particular cases, this is Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, and encourage their religious establishments to speak out against extremism,” said a senior State Department official who previewed Mr. Kerry’s strategy, referring to two Middle East news channels. “He’s also going to ask them to use their nationally owned media, and in two particular cases, this is Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, and encourage their religious establishments to speak out against extremism,” said a senior State Department official who previewed Mr. Kerry’s strategy, referring to two Middle Eastern news channels.
“This is also going to be an ask of the Egyptians — to have the Sheikh of Al Azhar and the Dar al-Ifta, their major Islamic seats of learning, to speak out against ISIL, although they’ve already done some of that,” added the State Department official, who asked not to be identified in accordance with the agency’s protocol for briefing reporters, using an alternative name for ISIS. “This is also going to be an ask of the Egyptians — to have the sheikh of Al Azhar and the Dar al-Ifta, their major Islamic seats of learning, to speak out against ISIL, although they’ve already done some of that,” added the State Department official, who asked not to be identified in accordance with the agency’s protocol for briefing reporters. He was using the abbreviation for an alternative ame for ISIS.
On the military front, the United States is pursuing discussions with regional defense ministers to discuss the expansion of bases and overflight rights so that the United States and other nations can expand the intensity and scope of airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.On the military front, the United States is pursuing discussions with regional defense ministers to discuss the expansion of bases and overflight rights so that the United States and other nations can expand the intensity and scope of airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
The senior State Department official said that Mr. Kerry planned to discuss with the Saudis “in some detail” plans to train and equip moderate Syria rebels. The senior State Department official said Mr. Kerry planned to discuss with the Saudis “in some detail” plans to train and equip moderate Syria rebels.
Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states have their interests, as well, including a more assertive effort to oust President Bashar al-Assad.Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states have their interests, as well, including a more assertive effort to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
In agreeing to the American request to host training of the moderate Sunni opposition, the Saudis are trying to develop a force that cannot only confront ISIS, but can also undermine Mr. Assad’s hold on power and even maintain order if he is toppled. In agreeing to the American request to host training of the moderate Sunni opposition, the Saudis are trying to develop a force that can not only confront ISIS, but can also undermine Mr. Assad’s hold on power and even maintain order if he is toppled.
“It’s a quite good program, not only to support the moderate opposition, but also because it can form some basis or be integrated in a post-Assad security force,” the State Department official added.“It’s a quite good program, not only to support the moderate opposition, but also because it can form some basis or be integrated in a post-Assad security force,” the State Department official added.
The Saudis have been strongly opposed to Mr. Assad, whom they accuse of brutally suppressing Sunnis and who is supported by Saudi Arabia’s regional nemesis, Iran. Saudi Arabia, a Sunni monarchy, has been strongly opposed to Mr. Assad, whom they accuse of brutally suppressing Sunnis and who is supported by Saudi Arabia’s regional nemesis, Iran.
But the Saudis have been increasingly worried about ISIS, which they fear presents a threat to the stability of the Saudi kingdom.But the Saudis have been increasingly worried about ISIS, which they fear presents a threat to the stability of the Saudi kingdom.
American officials said that 1,000 Saudis had volunteered to fight with militant Islamic groups in Iraq and Syria. Saudi officials are concerned that some of those volunteers may try to carry out attacks after they return home. In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has cracked down on a cell of more than 80 ISIS and Qaeda recruiters in the kingdom, the State Department official said. American officials said 1,000 Saudis had volunteered to fight with militant Islamic groups in Iraq and Syria. Saudi officials are concerned that some of those volunteers will try to carry out attacks after they return home. In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has cracked down on a cell of more than 80 ISIS and Qaeda recruiters in the kingdom, the State Department official said.
One nation the United States is not actively trying to coordinate with in fashioning a strategy to take on ISIS is Iran.One nation the United States is not actively trying to coordinate with in fashioning a strategy to take on ISIS is Iran.
Iran has been backing Shiite militias in Iraq who are fighting ISIS, sending drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and shipping tons of military equipment to the Iraqis. Iran has been backing Shiite militias in Iraq that are fighting ISIS, sending drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and shipping tons of military equipment to the Iraqis.
“Iran is taking its own actions,” Mr. Kerry during a visit to Baghdad on Wednesday. “The United States does not cooperate, militarily or otherwise, nor does it have any intention in this process of doing so, with Iran.”“Iran is taking its own actions,” Mr. Kerry during a visit to Baghdad on Wednesday. “The United States does not cooperate, militarily or otherwise, nor does it have any intention in this process of doing so, with Iran.”
Given the enmity between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and their profound differences over the Assad government, forging a coalition that would include Riyadh and Tehran seems all but impossible.Given the enmity between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and their profound differences over the Assad government, forging a coalition that would include Riyadh and Tehran seems all but impossible.
The growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States over Syria, including plans to train anti-Assad rebels, appears to have struck a raw nerve in Tehran.The growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States over Syria, including plans to train anti-Assad rebels, appears to have struck a raw nerve in Tehran.
“The so-called international coalition” to fight ISIS “is shrouded in serious ambiguities and there are severe misgivings about its determination to sincerely fight the root causes of terrorism,” said a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, on Thursday. “The so-called international coalition” to fight ISIS “is shrouded in serious ambiguities and there are severe misgivings about its determination to sincerely fight the root causes of terrorism,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, on Thursday.