Obama Regroups With Allies as Airstrikes Fail to Stop Islamic State Gains
By David Lerman Oct 14, 2014 12:00 AM ET
President Barack Obama will try to shore up a coalition against Islamic State forces today as airstrikes have failed to stop the extremist Sunni group from gaining territory in Iraq and Syria.
With questions growing about a plan that lacks effective ground forces, Obama and the top U.S. military officer will meet with defense ministers from more than 20 allied countries to bolster support for a strategy that even former administration officials say is foundering.
Baghdad, Iraqs capital, is the target of frequent attacks, and the airport is under grave risk. Army General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who will host the meeting, told ABC television that the U.S. had to call in Apache attack helicopters to prevent Islamic State forces from overrunning Iraqi troops and seizing the airport.
The towns of Hit and Kubaisa were captured last week and Haditha could fall within days, said Faleh al-Issawi, the deputy head of Anbars provincial council, in a phone interview.
This is a very, very serious threat, said James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq under Obama who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Time isnt on our side. Were going to start losing coalition members.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-14/obama-to-rally-allies-as-doubt-grow-on-islamic-state-plan.html