Text of Obama's Statement on Air Strikes in Iraq

[morningfog]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/text-obamas-statement-air-strikes-iraq-24894850

Obama has authorized the use of US military strikes in Iraq for two reasons: (1) US "personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq" are threatened and (2) "to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there."

This is wide open. These two grounds could cover virtually any any strike any where in the country.

And although he says "American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq," it is only true if the US relies solely on drones and strikes from ships in the Gulf. Any pilot dropping bombs or firing missiles would be a combat troop in Iraq.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. We were told that only a small number of Americans were in Iraq

at the Embassy compound.
Nothing was ever said about "personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq" after the withdrawal.

Meh...I am just at the point where I count the lies and don't expect truth at all anymore.

[morningfog]

2. It really begs the question, who are considered "personnel," how many are there,

and where? And what is meant by a facility?

They have laid the groundwork to fit any strike anywhere in Iraq into this.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Oh..it just hit me.....America contractors.

I had not parsed the phrasing.
Obama talks about "troops" being in the Green Zone, that embassy in Baghdad that is larger than many towns I have lived in,
and then talks about "Americans" in "various places" in Iraq.
Its the thousands of contractors that rushed in for the spoils after we "settled" Iraq this last time.

[bigtree]

4. and why not just evacuate them instead of defending their presence with airstrikes?

from last night's WH briefing:

Q. . . . why you didn't consider, as you did in Libya, evacuating the personnel from Erbil, instead of launching potential airstrikes to protect them?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. I’d just say on your first question, it’s our intention to continue operating in Erbil and Baghdad. We have in Iraq a significant amount of ISR and a capacity to closely monitor developments on the ground in the security of our facilities. We also had the request from the Iraqi government to take action. So we believe that provides us with the basis to essentially lay down a marker that we are going to take action with the airstrikes if we see movements by ISIL that put our people at risk.

Of course, we’ll always assess the footprint of U.S. personnel. But it’s our intention to defend against further ISIL encroachment towards Erbil. And as I said, we would apply the same principle as it relates to Baghdad as well.

(WH not really answering the question, but just defending their presence)

Good question as to who they actually are . . . likely military personnel and their support (contractors).

[bigtree]

5. CIA facility in Irbil -drone airport

Last edited Fri Aug 8, 2014, 05:28 PM - Edit history (2)

IRBIL, Iraq — A supposedly secret but locally well-known CIA station on the outskirts of Irbil’s airport is undergoing rapid expansion as the United States considers whether to engage in a war against Islamist militants who’ve seized control of half of Iraq in the past month.

Western contractors hired to expand the facility and a local intelligence official confirmed the construction project, which is visible from the main highway linking Irbil to Mosul, the city whose fall June 9 triggered the Islamic State’s sweep through northern and central Iraq. Residents around the airport say they can hear daily what they suspect are American drones taking off and landing at the facility.

Expansion of the facility comes as it seems all but certain that the autonomous Kurdish regional government and the central government in Baghdad, never easy partners, are headed for an irrevocable split _ complicating any U.S. military hopes of coordinating the two entities’ efforts against the Islamic State.


read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/11/233126/expansion-of-secret-facility-in.html

[morningfog]

6. Thanks for that link. Helpful to understanding.