Obama Gathering Data for Strikes; Kerry: 'intense and sustained' support; July 1 Deadline for Govt

[morningfog]

Kerry in Baghdad Says Obama Gathering Data for Strikes

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in Baghdad today that President Barack Obama is gathering the information he’d need if he decides to order airstrikes to counter the advance of Sunni militants in Iraq.

“The president has moved the assets into place and has been gaining each day the assurances he needs with respect to potential targeting,” Kerry said.

Obama “has reserved the right to himself, as he should, to make a decision at any time” to undertake strikes, Kerry said at a press conference at the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Baghdad. “We are implementing a strategy now; we are not waiting,” he said.

Administration officials said today that some military and political obstacles still remain in the path of renewed U.S. military action in Iraq more than two years after Obama withdrew the last U.S. combat forces from the country.

* * *

Increased U.S. surveillance and intelligence-gathering is already providing better information to Iraq’s military in remote border regions, the official said, and the the U.S. will deliver additional supplies to the Iraqi government and military as early as June 25.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/23/world/meast/iraq-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Kerry assures Iraqis of U.S. support if they unite against militants

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Iraqi leaders Monday as radical Sunni militants continue their march toward Baghdad during the country's tensest time since the U.S. withdrawal of troops in 2011.

"The future of Iraq depends on decisions made in the next few days and weeks," Kerry said after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the man who some observers say needs to step down.

Al-Maliki has agreed to a July 1 deadline to form a new government, a requirement for U.S. assistance in fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, Kerry said.

"Our support will be intense, sustained," and will be effective if Iraqi leaders unite to face the militant threat, he said.



http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-06-23/kerry-lands-in-iraq-to-meet-with-maliki-political-leaders

Kerry has made it clear, if it were still in doubt. The US military is back in business in Iraq. As a condition, Al-Maliki must form a new government by July 1. If that condition is met, the US will assist in fighting and our support will be intense and sustained. Intense cannot be understood in any way other than military strikes. We are marching towards renewed US military action in Iraq.

If Obama "renews" US military action in Iraq, he will be justifying and continuing Bush's illegal war.

[1000words]

1. Interesting how efficient and decisively things get done ...

when our government is making war.

[woo me with science]

7. Indeed.

[bigtree]

2. that's the language of a government spokesman

. . . I'd look to the CiC for any actual measure of the U.S. military commitment.

[morningfog]

3. Kick! Keep an eye on the march to war!

[woo me with science]

4. Representative government, my ass.

[Vattel]

5. Kerry has joined Obama in accepting John Yoo's absurd understanding of the President's war powers.

The silly Founders (and Obama himself in 2008) believed that only Congress should have the constitutional authority to place the nation in a state of war.

[morningfog]

6. Obama learned from his first effort to join this

regional war, via Syria. He was stopped by the people and the count in congress. Damn congress and the people this time.