Obama: No Timetable for US Airstrikes in Iraq

White House(WASHINGTON) — U.S. airstrikes will continue against ISIS fighters in Iraq, President Obama announced Saturday, adding that humanitarian air drops will be sustained for minority refugees.

“I’m not going to give a particular timetable because as I’ve said from the start, wherever and whenever U.S. personnel and facilities are threatened, it’s my obligation, my responsibility as Commander in Chief, to make sure they are protected,” Obama said.

Before departing for Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, the President addressed the ongoing situation in Iraq, stressing that the U.S. will not be putting boots on the ground.

Still, the threat of ISIS will not be solved in weeks, Obama said, emphasizing the importance of establishing a long-term peaceful solution through a stable and inclusive Iraqi government with Shiites and Sunnis.

“It is very hard to get a unified effort by Iraqis against ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant],” he said. “We can conduct air strikes, but ultimately, there’s not going to be an American military solution to this problem.”

For the short term, the president said Great Britain and France will move in to handle humanitarian air drops. The area of Erbil, where American government employees work, will remain under U.S. responsibility, along with the task of targeting ISIS convoys as they move across Iraq.

“Ultimately only Iraqis can ensure the security and stability of Iraq. The United States can’t do it for them, but we can and will be partners in that effort,” Obama said.

Obama rejected criticism that his administration could have prevented new violence in the country, saying that the decision to pull out from Iraq was made by the previous administration and the Iraqi government refused to sign the Joint Forces agreement allowing a small U.S. troop presence.

“That entire analysis is bogus and is wrong, but gets frequently peddled around here.”

 

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