Special to WorldTribune.com
The United States has issued an ultimatum to Iraq in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL): If you ask for Russia to intervene, America can no longer help you.
“I said it would make it very difficult for us to be able to provide the kind of support you need if the Russians were here conducting operations as well,” Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Oct. 20. “We can’t conduct operations if the Russians were operating in Iraq right now.”
Dunford said Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had promised that Baghdad would not request Russian air strikes or support in the fight against ISIL in Iraq.
The United States, Dunford said, “can’t have a relationship right now with Russia in the context of Iraq,” adding that there was “angst” in the U.S. after reports surfaced that Abadi said he would welcome Russian intervention against ISIL.
According to a Reuters report, the leaders of some powerful Iraqi Shi’ite groups were urging Abadi to request Russian air support.
“Abadi told the meeting parties that it wasn’t the right time to include the Russians in the fight because that would only complicate the situation with the Americans and could have undesired consequences even on long-term future relations with America,” the report said.
Russia’s ambassador in London took to Twitter to suggest “terrorists must be rejoicing” at the news that Iraq is not likely to seek Russian air support.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Assad on Oct. 20 visited Moscow for his first known trip abroad since the war broke out in Syria in 2011. Assad personally met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to thank him for intervening in Syria.
U.S. to Iraq on fight against ISIL: If Russia is in, we’re out added by World Tribune on
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