US Defense chief Carter arrives in Iraq for talks on how to beef up IS fight
Posted on April 18, 2016 by Editorial Staff in 1 Top News, Security
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter
http://ekurd.net/ash-carter-arrives-iraq-2016-04-18 BAGHDAD,— Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Baghdad Monday to talk to Iraqi leaders about beefing up Iraqi forces working to retake the northern city of Mosul, a critical goal in the effort to defeat the Islamic State group.
A senior U.S. official said that as the U.S. moves to help the Iraqis, it will also likely mean that at least a “small number” of additional American forces will go to the warzone.
Carter has said the U.S. is considering a number of options, including more airstrikes, cyberattacks and American troops on the ground.
Late last month, U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that he and Carter believe U.S. forces in Iraq will increase in the coming weeks. Any final decision would be worked out with the Iraqi government and require President Barack Obama’s approval.
Some of those decisions could become clearer in the coming days and weeks. Obama will be in Saudi Arabia later this week to meet with Gulf leaders and talk about the fight against the Islamic State group.
Carter has said the U.S. wants Persian Gulf nations to help Iraq rebuild its cities once IS militants are defeated.
The Islamic State group has established a key stronghold in Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and retaking it from the militants is the key end game, according to the U.S. official.
But U.S. military and defense officials also have made clear that winning back Mosul will be challenging, because the insurgents are dug in and have likely peppered the landscape with roadside bombs and other traps for any advancing military.
During his visit to Baghdad, Carter is slated to meet with Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the top U.S. military commander for the Islamic State fight, as well as a number of Iraqi leaders including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi.
He also is expected to speak by phone with the president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani.
The senior defense official told reporters traveling with Carter that while Iraqi leaders have been reluctant to have a large number of U.S. troops in Iraq, they also need certain capabilities that only more American or coalition forces can provide.
Iraqi leaders, said the official, will back the addition of more U.S. troops if they directly coincide with specific capabilities that Iraq forces needs to fight IS and take back Mosul.
By Lolita C. Baldor
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, AP
