This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-urges-iraq-to-ensure-coalition-aid-is-effective-against-islamic-state/2015/03/09/8ef90302-c67a-11e4-b2a1-bed1aaea2816_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
U.S. urges Iraq to ensure coalition aid is effective against Islamic State U.S. urges Iraq to ensure coalition aid is effective against Islamic State
(35 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — The top U.S. military officer urged Iraqi leaders on Monday to take steps to ensure the effectiveness of U.S. and allied security aid, calling for additional reforms to military leadership, improvements to pay and equipping systems, and stepped-up recruitment of troops whose fighting power is desperately needed against the Islamic State.BAGHDAD — The top U.S. military officer urged Iraqi leaders on Monday to take steps to ensure the effectiveness of U.S. and allied security aid, calling for additional reforms to military leadership, improvements to pay and equipping systems, and stepped-up recruitment of troops whose fighting power is desperately needed against the Islamic State.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made a day-long visit to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders and hear U.S. commanders’ assessment of the ongoing military campaign. He also raised concerns about the Shiite-led government’s record so far in securing buy-in from the country’s Sunni Arabs.Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made a day-long visit to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders and hear U.S. commanders’ assessment of the ongoing military campaign. He also raised concerns about the Shiite-led government’s record so far in securing buy-in from the country’s Sunni Arabs.
“I wanted them to know we are eager for them to keep all the lines of effort, to include the governance line, making progress,” he told reporters several hours after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi.“I wanted them to know we are eager for them to keep all the lines of effort, to include the governance line, making progress,” he told reporters several hours after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi.
Dempsey said that seven months of airstrikes, part of a larger effort from a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, was achieving results against the militant group, which is now scrambling to defend multiple fronts from Iraqi troops and paramilitary forces.Dempsey said that seven months of airstrikes, part of a larger effort from a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, was achieving results against the militant group, which is now scrambling to defend multiple fronts from Iraqi troops and paramilitary forces.
During his visit to Baghdad, Dempsey heard a staunch defense of another of Iraq’s prominent military backers: Shiite neighbor Iran. Tehran’s increasingly overt role in supporting Shiite militias in Iraq has created more than a little anxiety in Washington only three years after the United States ended its war in Iraq.During his visit to Baghdad, Dempsey heard a staunch defense of another of Iraq’s prominent military backers: Shiite neighbor Iran. Tehran’s increasingly overt role in supporting Shiite militias in Iraq has created more than a little anxiety in Washington only three years after the United States ended its war in Iraq.
Speaking alongside Dempsey at a news conference, Obeidi praised the contribution of Iranian-backed “popular mobilization” paramilitary fighters, who now make up the bulk of a force currently attempting to retake the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants.Speaking alongside Dempsey at a news conference, Obeidi praised the contribution of Iranian-backed “popular mobilization” paramilitary fighters, who now make up the bulk of a force currently attempting to retake the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants.
Iraq has “asked for help from many countries that we have a strategic relationship with, and that includes the United States, of course, and also Iran,” Obeidi said.Iraq has “asked for help from many countries that we have a strategic relationship with, and that includes the United States, of course, and also Iran,” Obeidi said.
“We are in a state of war, and we look to our friends to help us in this confrontation,” he said. “The situation is acceptable to us.”“We are in a state of war, and we look to our friends to help us in this confrontation,” he said. “The situation is acceptable to us.”
While the Obama administration is pushing ahead with talks to end Iran’s nuclear program, Washington and Tehran remain on opposite sides of a range of issues, including the conflict in Syria.While the Obama administration is pushing ahead with talks to end Iran’s nuclear program, Washington and Tehran remain on opposite sides of a range of issues, including the conflict in Syria.
So far, equipment, training and other types of support from Iran’s military have enhanced the fighting power of the organized militias and volunteer fighters in Iraq. Dempsey has focused his concern on the aftermath of the current battles, saying that Iran must prove its support extends to helping Iraq build a stable, unified country.So far, equipment, training and other types of support from Iran’s military have enhanced the fighting power of the organized militias and volunteer fighters in Iraq. Dempsey has focused his concern on the aftermath of the current battles, saying that Iran must prove its support extends to helping Iraq build a stable, unified country.
Dempsey, who spent three years in Iraq prior to becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iraq’s performance on sectarian inclusion would help inform the long-term viability of the broad international coalition the Obama administration assembled last year to fight the Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL. The group now poses a threat not only in Iraq and Syria, but across the region and potentially in the West. Dempsey, who spent three years in Iraq during the 2003-11 war, said the long-term viability of the international coalition that the Obama administration assembled last year to fight the Islamic State could be threatened if Iraq does succeed in drawing in Sunnis.
Dempsey said some Sunni Arab nations in the alliance have raised concerns to him that Abadi’s government is not doing enough to help Iraq’s Sunnis. He said some Sunni Arab nations in the alliance have raised concerns to him that Abadi’s government is not doing enough to help Iraq’s Sunnis.
While the mild-mannered Abadi has committed to increasing Sunni participation in Iraq’s government and armed forces, progress has been slow. Efforts to build Sunni local forces to balance the Shiite militias have moved haltingly, while a proposal to create a multi-sectarian national guard has not yet passed the Iraqi parliament. The Sunni extremists of the Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL, pose a threat not just in Iraq and Syria but across the region and potentially in the West.
“I come away a bit concerned that it’s going to be difficult to sustain the coalition for the rest of the challenge, which is trans-regional, unless the government of Iraq can actually form that national unity platform that they’ve committed,” he said. While Abadi has committed to increasing Iraqi Sunnis’ participation in the government and armed forces, progress has been slow. Efforts to build Sunni local forces to balance the Shiite militias have moved haltingly, while a proposal to create a multi-sectarian national guard has not yet passed the Iraqi parliament. When Abadi took over as prime minister last year, he promised to reach out to all of Iraq’s sects and ethnicities.
Dempsey said the U.S.-led coalition would consider using air power to defend historic sites under threat from the Islamic State, which has destroyed ancient artifacts and archeological sites it deems blasphemous in line with its fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. On Sunday, Iraq's tourism and antiquities minister called on the U.S.-led coalition to conduct strikes to protect such sites. “I come away a bit concerned that it’s going to be difficult to sustain the coalition for the rest of the challenge, which is trans-regional, unless the government of Iraq can actually form that national unity platform that they’ve committed,” Dempsey said.
The Army general said the U.S.-led coalition would consider using air power to defend historic sites under threat from the Islamic State, which has destroyed ancient artifacts and archeological sites it deems blasphemous in line with its fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. On Sunday, Iraq's tourism and antiquities minister called on the U.S.-led coalition to conduct strikes to protect such sites.
But Dempsey cautioned that any such request would have to be weighed against other priorities, such as preventing attacks on civilians and protecting key infrastructure or the capital, Baghdad.But Dempsey cautioned that any such request would have to be weighed against other priorities, such as preventing attacks on civilians and protecting key infrastructure or the capital, Baghdad.
“We will consider it, but it has to fit into the priority of all the other things we’re being asked to do on behalf of Iraq” he said.“We will consider it, but it has to fit into the priority of all the other things we’re being asked to do on behalf of Iraq” he said.