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U.S. Seeking Coalition For Potential Joint Military Action in Iraq, Syria: Partners No Sure Bet

U.S. Seeking Coalition For Potential Joint Military Action in Iraq, Syria: Partners No Sure Bet
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The United States is intensifying its push to build an international campaign against the so-called "Islamic State" fighters in Iraq and Syria, including recruiting partners for potential joint military action, Obama administration officials said on Wednesday.

U.S. Seeking Coalition For Potential Joint Military Action in Iraq, Syria: Partners No Sure Bet
It is unclear how many nations will sign up. Some such as trusted ally Britain harbour bitter memories of joining the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" in the 2003 invasion of Iraq that included troops from 38 nations.
Others such as France refused to join the action. The claims of the existence of weapons of mass destruction which spurred the coalition to act were found to be false.

While Britain and Australia are potential candidates, U.S. officials said, Germany said on Wednesday that it was in talks with the United States and other international partners about possible military action against IS but made clear it would not participate.

Moreover, the British embassy in Washington said it has not received a request from the United States for air strikes. Also, a spokesman for Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said humanitarian aid in Iraq could continue but declined to say whether Australia would join U.S.-led military action.

Among America's possibly reluctant allies is France, which was left on a limb when U.S. President Barack Obama backed down from the threat of strikes on Syria.

"It was embarrassing for us," a senior French diplomat said. "After what happened last year [2013], now when the Americans decide to do something we will need some very strong guarantees before committing to anything."

The United States, the U.S. officials said, could act alone if necessary against the militants.

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that, "We are working with our partners and asking how they might be able to contribute. According to Psaki, she said there are a range of ways to contribute: humanitarian, military, intelligence, diplomatic."

Furthermore, while Iraq's government welcomed the role of U.S. war planes to attack the militants, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned that any strikes conducted without its permission would be considered an act of aggression, potentially plunging any U.S.-led coalition into a broader conflict with Syria.

More broadly, American officials appear to be accelerating efforts to build a wide coalition of countries, where those talks include a large group of countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Britain, France, Australia and Germany, two officials said on condition of anonymity.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

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