But during a heated debate, the top U.S. diplomat came under fire from Republicans and Democrats who argued that if President Barack Obama wanted new powers to combat the militants, he should have drawn up a draft text to propose to the Senate.
Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations committee: "I think we all agree that this discussion must conclude with a bipartisan vote that makes clear that this is not one party's fight against ISIL (IS), but rather that it reflects our unified determination to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL."
"Our coalition partners need to know it. The men and women of our armed forces need to know it. And ISIL's cadres of killers, rapists, and bigots need to understand it."
He asked the committee to help draw up a new authorization which "provides a clear signal of support for our ongoing military operations against ISIL," referring to the group by another acronym.
Kerry also urged that the text should not limit U.S. actions geographically to just Syria and Iraq, and suggested it should be valid for three years with room for a possible extension.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=184875&cid=18&fromval=1
10/12/14
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- Kerry urges flexibility in war against ISIS ...
The authorization should also not restrict U.S. President Barack Obama in deploying combat troops against the militant group if needed, Kerry told a Senate committee debating the need for an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).
“We do not think an AUMF should include a geographic limitation,” Kerry said, “We don't anticipate conducting operations in countries other than Iraq and Syria, but to the extent that ISIS poses a threat to American interests and personnel in other countries, we would not want an AUMF to constrain our ability to use appropriate force against ISIS in those locations if necessary.
“In our view, it would be a mistake to advertise to ISIS that there are safe havens for them outside Iraq or Syria,” Kerry added.
“The president has been crystal clear that his policy is that U.S. military forces will not be deployed to conduct ground combat operations against ISIS; that will be the responsibility of local forces,” Kerry said.
Kerry also told the committee that the administration supported a proposal by Senator Robert Menendez to grant new war powers for a period of three years to avoid an open-ended authorization.
“We support that proposal subject to a provision we should work through together that provides for an extension in the event that circumstances require it, and we think it should be advertised up front,” Kerry added.
He said it was important that the new authorization had bipartisan support “that makes clear this is not one party's fight.”
Kerry has cautioned that while a U.S.-led coalition was starting to inflict damage on ISIS, carrying out around 1,050 air strikes in Iraq and Syria, the fight could take years.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/12/10/Kerry-urges-flexibility-in-U-S-war-powers-against-ISIS-.html
[With Reuters]
10/12/14
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Islamic State storms town in western Iraq, kills 19 police: officials ...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Islamic State fighters stormed a town in Iraq's western Anbar province on Saturday, killing at least 19 policemen and trapping others inside their headquarters, in the latest attack in the desert region where it controls large amounts of territory, officials said.
Islamic State seized the town of al-Wafa, 45 km (27 miles) west of Anbar's capital Ramadi on Saturday after starting its assault early on Friday.............http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/13/us-mideast-crsis-iraq-idUSKBN0JR0F520141213?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
13/12/14