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 President Barack Obama sought to use a NATO summit in Wales to
enlist allied support in fighting the Islamist militants, but it is
unclear how many nations might join the United States in air strikes
in Iraq.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck
Hagel told foreign and defense ministers from 10 nations on the
sidelines of the summit that there were many ways they could help.
"We need to attack them in ways that prevent them from taking over
territory, to bolster the Iraqi security forces and others in the
region who are prepared to take them on, without committing troops
of our own," Kerry told the meeting.
"Obviously I think that's a red line for everybody here: no boots on
the ground."
Ministers from United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada,
Australia, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark met to discuss a
strategy for addressing the Sunni militant group that has taken over
swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory.
"This group here this morning is the core coalition," Hagel told
them. "It is the core group that will form the larger and extended
coalition that's going to be required to deal with this challenge."
Kerry said he hoped the allies could develop a comprehensive plan
for combating IS in time for this month's annual U.N. General
Assembly session in New York.
STRATEGY SOUGHT
British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois
Hollande, the leaders of Europe's main military powers, told Obama
in private meetings that Washington had to do more than simply order
air strikes on IS targets in Iraq and needed an overall strategy,
European officials said.
"It can’t be just ‘let’s go and bomb a few targets and see what
happens’," said one Western defense official familiar with the talks
between the allied leaders.
France said this week it was ready to engage in all aspects of the
fight against IS, including potentially military action. British
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Friday that London had not
yet decided on any involvement in air strikes.
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A British official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "There
is a growing sense that this is going to take more than we are
doing... but it needs to be a measured, cautious approach."
A NATO official said that while individual members and partners
would provide security assistance, the alliance would help
coordinate supplies and serve as a clearing house to matching
available airlift with deliveries.
The Europeans have called for a global strategy to combat the
Islamic State threat, involving a new Iraqi government, Iraq's
neighbors and other stakeholders.
Obama drew bipartisan criticism last week after saying candidly he
had not yet developed a strategy for confronting the Islamic State
in Syria, where militants have beheaded two U.S. journalists in the
last month.
The United States stressed the need for a comprehensive approach in
the talks on Friday and acknowledged that action against IS in Iraq
would have implications in Syria as well.
"We’re convinced in the days ahead we have the ability to destroy
ISIL. It may take a year, it may take two years, it may take three
years. But we’re determined," Kerry said.
(Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan, Julien Ponthus and Guy
Faulconbridge; Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Paul Taylor)
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