John Kerry attnded a meeting of Arab states to seek support for Obama’s plan for air strikes against Isis. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
The Syrian government and its close allies in Moscow and Tehran warned Barack Obama that an offensive against Islamic State (Isis) within Syriawould violate international law yesterday, hours after the US president announced that he was authorising an open-ended campaign of air strikesagainst militants on both sides of the border with Iraq.
Syrian opposition groups welcomed Obama’s announcement and called for heavy weapons to fight the “terror” of Isis and Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Arabia and nine other Arab states pledged to back the US plan “as appropriate”.
Hadi al-Bahra, head of the western-backed Syrian National Coalition, said the group “stands ready and willing to partner with the international community not only to defeat Isis but also rid the Syrian people of the tyranny of the Assad regime”. In Reyhanli, on the Turkish-Syrian border, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said that moderate anti-Assad forces urgently needed anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.
But long-standing international divisions over Syria were starkly highlighed in the hours after the speech. Iran’s foreign ministry said that “the so-called international coalition to fight the Isil [Islamic State] group … is shrouded in serious ambiguities and there are severe misgivings about its determination to sincerely fight the root causes of terrorism.”
Russia said it would not support any military action without a UN resolution authorising it. “The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Isil positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government,” said a spokesman. “This step, in the absence of a UN security council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law.” China said that the world should fight terror but that national sovereignty must be respected.
In Damascus, the Assad government warned against US raids. “Any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria,” said the national reconciliation minister, Ali Haidar. Analysts believe, however, that Assad would be likely to ignore strikes on Isis targets – and even seek to quietly cooperate with western efforts.
In a meeting with Staffan de Mistura, the new UN envoy for Syria, Assad stressed his commitment to fight “terrorism” but he made no mention of the US president’s speech on Wednesday night.
“As long as air strikes only hit Isis they will be condemned as a violation of international law but won’t be dealt with as aggression that requires retaliation,” Jihad Makdissi, a former Syrian diplomat, told the Guardian.
Obama used a long-heralded address on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to lay out his response to the appearance of an aggressive jihadi insurgency in the heart of the Arab world. US polls show growing support for military action since Isis fighters captured large areas of northern Iraq and eastern Syria and beheaded two American citizens in the past month.
He compared the campaign to those waged against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia, where US drones, cruise missiles and special operations raids have battered local affiliates without, however, notably improving the stability of either country or dealing decisive blows.
Obama’s new strategy won swift if vague support from America’s Arab allies, with Saudi Arabia agreeing to train Syrian rebel fighters. John Kerry, the US secretary state, held talks in the port city of Jeddah with ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and six Gulf states. After the meeting, participants said they had agreed “as appropriate” to “many aspects” of the military campaign against Isis, to stop the flow of funds and fighters and help rebuild communities “brutalised” by the group. Support was also expressed for the new, more inclusive Baghdad government – seen as vital to persuade Iraq’s disaffected Sunnis not to support Isis. MPs in Jordan, warned, however, that they would not tolerate any participation in US action.
“We welcome this new strategy,” said Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurdish politician and one of Iraq’s newly appointed deputy prime ministers. “There is an urgent need for action. People cannot sit on the fence. This is a mortal threat to everybody.”
There was confusion over Britain’s role after Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, said the UK would not take part in air strikes. But Downing Street quickly announced that UK participation had not been ruled out. Germany said it would not participate. Both countries have sent weapons and ammuniction to the Iraqi Kurds – part of the overall anti-Isis strategy.
The Pentagon is currently working on identifying suitable targets in Syria, according to White House officials. The US will also deploy a further 475 troops to Iraq, where they are expected to help identify targets.
US officials said that Kerry would be seeking to pressure Kuwait and Qatar to stop their citizens financing al-Qaida and Isis. The Saudis, stung by accusations of support for the jihadis, have already worked to crack down on funding and announced the arrest of scores of alleged terrorist sympathisers in recent weeks.
Obama said the air strikes were a necessary counter-terrorism measure to prevent the group from becoming a future threat to the US and therefore did not require fresh congressional approval. But he is expected to receive overwhelming congressional support for separate authorisation to provide military support to rival Syrian rebels like the FSA, a vote that some Republicans fear could help boost Democratic chances in this November’s midterm elections by providing political support for his tough new foreign policy.
In a prime-time address on Wednesday evening, President Barack Obama explained to Americans his strategy for confronting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Sunni militant group.
(Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Please place a hedge of protection around each and everyone. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen – LS)
Year-by-year Timeline of America’s Major Wars (1776-2011)
1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War
1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1795 – Northwest Indian War
1796 – No major war
1797 – No major war
1798 – Quasi-War
1799 – Quasi-War
1800 – Quasi-War
1801 – First Barbary War
1802 – First Barbary War
1803 – First Barbary War
1804 – First Barbary War
1805 – First Barbary War
1806 – Sabine Expedition
1807 – No major war
1808 – No major war
1809 – No major war
1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida
1811 – Tecumseh’s War
1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida
1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida
1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war
1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war
1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War
1824 – Anti-piracy war
1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1826 – No major war
1827 – Winnebago War
1828 – No major war
1829 – No major war
1830 – No major war
1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War
1832 – Black Hawk War
1833 – Cherokee Indian War
1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign
1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War
1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War
1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War
1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War
1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars
1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands
1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa
1842 – Seminole Wars
1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast
1844 – Texas-Indian Wars
1845 – Texas-Indian Wars
1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War
1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition
1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars
1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War
1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua
1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War
1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign
1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862,
1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War
1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War
1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War
1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China
1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan
1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War
1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea
1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War
1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
Kashmiri demonstrators hold up a flag of the Islamic State during a demonstration against Israel, in downtown Srinagar on July 18, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Tauseef MUSTAFA)
US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro expressed confidence Thursday that Israel and the US could work together in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group.
Shapiro’s comments came hours after US President Barack Obama laid out the US’s plan to battle the terror group, including expanding airstrikes to Syria and mustering support from regional partners.
“There is no doubt that every nation has something to contribute to this effort, including Israel,” Shapiro told Israel Radio. “There is always close and full cooperation with Israel against mutual threats… I am sure our intelligence services will continue this cooperation when it comes to [IS] just as they have against other threats.”
Shapiro also said that “we will make an effort to arrange a meeting between [President Barack Obama] and [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] during his visit to the US” after the Jewish New Year.
Netanyahu is scheduled to fly to New York on September 27 for the United Nations General Assembly and return before the Yom Kippur holiday on October 3.
On Wednesday, Obama called for a “systematic campaign of airstrikes, hitting IS targets as Iraqi forces go on the offensive.” He said American bombers would not hesitate to hit IS in Syria as well as Iraq.
The speech marked a major US escalation, despite Obama having devoted much of his presidency to pulling America out of wars in the Middle East and avoiding new foreign entanglements.
Obama also said the US would work with allies, including Sunni Arab states in the region, to “degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”
“Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off its funding; improve our intelligence; strengthen our defenses; counter its warped ideology; and stem the flow of foreign fighters into – and out of – the Middle East,” he said.
While Israel is unlikely to directly participate in any military operations against IS, Jerusalem has already provided the US with intelligence and satellite images on Islamic State positions, as well as information on Westerners joining its ranks, to assist Washington in its ongoing operation against the Islamic State, according to a report by Reuters, citing an unnamed Western official.
MoD Chief Makes First Visit to Top-Tier Arms Market
Sep. 10, 2014 – 11:39AM |
By BARBARA OPALL-ROME
Azerbaijan President llham Aliyev, front seat on the right, sits across from an Israeli delegation, including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, third from right, where defense and trade ties were discussed. (Israel Ministry of Defense)
TEL AVIV — Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon began a two-day visit to Azerbaijan on Wednesday aiming to bolster burgeoning ties with its strategic and defense trade partner that conveniently borders northeast Iran.
Ya’alon’s visit, the first by an Israeli MoD chief in 22 years of diplomatic relations between the Jewish and Muslim states, comes less than a month after Iran claimed to have shot down an Israeli-made UAV that reportedly took off from Azerbaijan.
It also coincides with ADEX-2014, the first international arms exhibition hosted by Baku, where 16 Israeli firms and MoD export officials will market a full spectrum of air, sea, land and space systems.
At a Wednesday meeting with Azerbaijan President llham Aliyev, Ya’alon characterized bilateral ties as “fruitful,” and noted that the two countries were engaged in broad-based strategic cooperation.
“I’m happy to be hosted here in the first historic visit by an Israeli defense minister to Azerbaijan,” Ya’alon said. “We have bilateral strategic relations and cooperation in different areas.”
With nearly $4 billion in arms deals over the past three years and commitments by Baku’s authoritarian government to grow its defense industrial base, Azerbaijan has rapidly risen to the top ranks of Israeli export markets.
Since 2012, Baku has purchased at least $1.6 billion worth of UAVs, radars and air defense missiles from state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and is talking about buying or leasing IAI-produced spy satellites.
From state-owned Rafael, the Azerbaijani military has acquired Spike anti-tank missiles and targeting systems.
Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest non-state-owned defense firm, has been operating a local subsidiary, Elbit Systems of Azerbaijan, since 2009. Prominent deals in recent years include the Cardom self-propelled recoiling mortar and advanced upgrades to the Russian-made T-72 tanks.
In a Wednesday announcement of the two-day trade show to begin tomorrow in Baku, ADEX-2014 organizers said the event was initiated and supported by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of the Defence Industry and Ministry of Defence.
“The idea for the creation of a military exhibition was born out of the success of the defence industry in recent years. Economic progress in all sectors of the economy established the role of Azerbaijan as an important player and strategic partner on the regional and international markets,” it said.
“The military industrial complex of Azerbaijan has implemented a number of major projects and has had a major increase in its capabilities,” event organizers wrote.
According to the announcement, Azerbaijan is involved in indigenous or licensed production of some 900 defense products and systems, including “all types of ammunition, machinery and weaponry.”
“A strong state needs a strong army,” event organizers wrote.
Ya’alon’s visit follows high-level talks in April by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman, the third by Israel’s top diplomat since 2010. In April 2013, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamadyarov held meetings in Israel with the country’s top leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ya’alon.
Rapidly expanding security ties between Israel and Azerbaijan have antagonized Iran, where some 25 million Azeris form the country’s largest minority, noted Michael Segall, a retired colonel in the Israel Defense Forces.
In a paper published last year by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Segall cited Tehran’s concern about covert cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan, and the potential for Baku to serve as forward base for an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites.
“Iran views the ‘Israeli threat’ as the most tangible of all, both in terms of a platform for a military attack and a base for intelligence gathering and special operations against Iran, which claims the assassins of its nuclear scientists came from Azerbaijan,” Segall wrote.
In a speech to the American people, Wednesday, Sept. 10, President Barack Obama unveiled a four-point strategy “to roll back, degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS, at the head of “a broad coalition of friends and allies.” The US would lead off with systematic air strikes against IS targets, while local forces would perform the fighting on the ground. “No US combat troops would be involved,” he pledged.
He described the effort as a “comprehensive and sustained counter-terror mission,” to hunt terrorists down wherever they are. “We will not hesitate to take action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq,” said Obama. “There will be no safe haven for anyone threatening America.” He therefore called on Congress to approve additional resources for training and equipping Syrian opposition forces to take part in the war on IS.
Another 475 US military personnel had been assigned to Iraq, he said, but not in combat missions. They would provide training, intelligence and equipment and judge how best to support the Iraqi military. “America can make a difference,: he stressed, “but Iraqis must do the job of fighting IS themselves.”
According to US sources, the Obama administration has earmarked the small sum of $25 million dollars for training the Iraqi and Kurdish armies.
In the past six weeks, the US has conducted 154 air strikes against IS – a relatively low number which debkafile’s military sources note is far below the fire power needed to “degrade” the Islamists.
Moreover, Washington has scarcely delivered on its promises for three years to arm the Syrian opposition adequately to contest Bashar Assad and his Iranian, Russian and Hizballah-backed war machine.
Now, it will take months if not years to bring the pro-Western Syrian rebel militias up to scratch for their new mission of fighting IS.
As for the broad coalition of friends and allies, US Secretary of State John Kerry stated in Baghdad Wednesday that it would consist of 40 nations. So far only 10-15 governments have signed up. At the same time, President Obama appeared to be firm and determined in his resolve the eradicate the terrorist scourge that calls itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but he made no bones about a mission that would start slowly and stretch out over a long period.
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