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UP FRONTWednesday 20 January 2016
Carter: US looking to coalition for more trainers for Iraq
Iraqi security forces clear houses of Islamic State fighters in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, LOLITA C. BALDOR like to see more direct mili-
Iraq, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday that he wants coalition Associated Press tary contributions — both
and other Arab countries to “greatly” increase the number of trainers they provide for Iraqi secu- PARIS (AP) — Defense Sec- equipment and training
rity forces and police. retary Ash Carter said Tues- — from Arab and Asian
day that he wants coalition countries. Arab nations
(AP Photo) and other Arab countries joined the coalition’s air-
to “greatly” increase the strike campaign early on,
number of trainers they but their participation has
provide for Iraqi security waned a bit over time,
forces and police, and particularly as the fight be-
said the U.S. will also look at tween Saudi Arabia and
boosting its numbers. Iran-backed rebels in Ye-
Speaking to reporters as he men has increased.
traveled to Paris for a meet- No Arab country was in-
ing with several, mainly Eu- vited to the meeting, but
ropean, defense ministers, Carter said he talks with
Carter said the U.S. is open Arab leaders frequently.
to doing more when there There also are concerns
is an opportunity “to make that IS is winning the propa-
a difference.” ganda war, and meetings
“I think we’re certainly like this are aimed, in part,
open to that,” Carter said at eroding that effort and
when asked if the U.S. getting out the message
would consider providing that the militants are losing
more trainers. But he add- ground.
ed that other countries can Carter and his defense
also provide more training counterparts are also ex-
so “there’s no reason why pected to talk about plans
the United States should do to retake key cities in Iraq
all of that.” and Syria. The U.S. has
He said the special com- a plan to help Iraqi and
mando force that the U.S. Kurdish peshmerga forces
deployed to Iraq has not retake Mosul in northern
yet started operations, Iraq and to assist the Syr-
which are expected to in- ian moderate forces oust
clude direct action and Islamic State militants from
intelligence gathering mis- the group’s power center
sions. in Raqqa, Syria.
The approximately 200 spe- The U.S. has already re-
cial operations forces have quested special opera-
been sent to Iraq to better tions forces, fighter jet and
capitalize on intelligence reconnaissance aircraft,
and put more pressure on weapons and munitions,
the Islamic State. The U.S. training and other com-
has more than 3,300 troops bat support. But the key
in Iraq. needs are trainers and sur-
Carter is in Paris to meet veillance assets, such as
with a handful of key coali- drones.
tion countries battling the Iraqi security forces, which
Islamic State in Iraq and waged a long battle to
Syria as they map out plans retake Ramadi, need in-
for the coming year’s fight. creased training on niche
He and defense leaders capabilities, including how
from France, Australia, Ger- to counter improvised ex-
many, Italy, the Nether- plosive devices.
lands and the United King- While in Paris, Carter also
dom will gather Wednes- will meet with French De-
day and Carter has said fense Minister Jean-Yves
he won’t hesitate to chal- Le Drian. The U.S. has been
lenge them to do more in forging a closer military and
the fight. intelligence relationship
U.S. military leaders believe with France, particularly in
that the coalition is gaining the wake of the terrorist at-
ground on IS. And they are tacks in Paris last year.
hoping that the six core na- Part of the conversation
tions can reach out to oth- may involve the weekend
er countries to encourage attack at a hotel in the
them to contribute to the West Africa nation of Burki-
operations to capitalize on na Faso. At least 30 people
the progress. were killed in the attack,
While European nations and al-Qaida in the Islam-
have been heavily in- ic Maghreb has claimed
volved, the coalition would responsibility.q
