Obama Offers $200 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Iraq - East Idaho News
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Obama Offers $200 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Iraq

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021513 PresidentObama?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1429099395780Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the Oval Office Tuesday and offered $200 million in humanitarian aid to help Iraqis displaced by the terrorist group ISIS.

The president said the aid would go to “help stabilize communities and to help those who have been displaced from their homes, have lost their jobs, have seen their property destroyed.”

It was Abadi’s first official U.S. visit since taking office last September.

Speaking to reporters, President Obama said while Iraqi forces continue to be equipped and trained by the U.S. military, the ultimate responsibility for Iraqi troops lies with the Iraqi government.

“The government is accountable for the actions of armed forces, so that if there are criminal acts or sectarian retributions that are carried out, that ultimately Prime Minister Abadi is able to call those forces to account,” Obama said.

Abadi assured the president that he was cracking down on abuses. “I have to admit that there are some violations, human rights violations, being committed by some criminal parties and outliers, but we have zero tolerance for any violations of human rights,” Abadi said. “And when we manage to catch these people, we are bringing them before the judicial system and we punish them.”


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