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U.S. NEWS A3
Tuesday 9 February 2016
US faces shortcomings in coalition-building for anti-IS war
ROBERT BURNS doors, share with them Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks during a news confer- on U.S. ground forces par-
AP National Security Writer details of the U.S. strategy ence at the Pentagon. To doubters of its strategy for defeat- ticipating. Canada an-
WASHINGTON (AP) — To for recapturing the main ing the Islamic State, the Obama administration likes to tout nounced on Monday that
doubters of its strategy Islamic State group strong- its coalition of 66 nations and claim strength in numbers. But a it will quit conducting air-
for defeating the Islamic holds in Syria and Iraq. year and a half into the war, some administration officials are strikes in Syria and Iraq by
State, the Obama admin- “What I’m going to do is sit acknowledging that this supposed source of strength has its Feb. 22 but will expand its
istration likes to tout its co- down and say, here is the own weaknesses. contributions to training
alition of 66 nations and campaign plan ... If you’re Kurdish and other local
claim strength in numbers. thinking World War II news- (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) forces and provide more
But a year and a half into reel pictures, you think of humanitarian and devel-
the war, some administra- an arrow going north to out airstrikes in Iraq, said week it could send ground opmental aid. Canada
tion officials are acknowl- take Mosul and another on Jan. 29 that it would troops into Syria, although also will keep two surveil-
edging that this supposed arrow coming south to expand its efforts to Syria. it was not clear whether lance planes in the region
source of strength has its take Raqqa,” he said last Saudi Arabia indicated last the offer was conditioned and conduct aerial refuel-
own weaknesses. week. And then he will run ing missions.
Defense Secretary Ash through a list of military ca- Over the course of a de-
Carter offered a glimpse of pabilities — “boots on the cade and a half of coali-
his own apparent frustra- ground, airplanes in the tion warfare in Iraq and
tion last week when he re- air,” plus trainers and other Afghanistan, U.S. officials
ferred to “our so-called co- support personnel — that have frequently found
alition” and suggested the will be needed to achieve themselves pleading and
slackers need to step up. victory. cajoling with the Europe-
“We need everybody, and “And I’m going to say, ‘OK, ans to contribute more,
that’s all the Europeans, guys. Let’s match up what and they generally have
the (Persian) Gulf states ... is needed to win with what responded with pledges to
Turkey, which is right there you have, and kind of give do just a little bit more. q
on the border. So there are everybody the opportunity
a lot that need to make to make an assignment for
more contributions,” he themselves,’” he said. “The
said. United States will lead this
So Carter is leaving Tuesday and we’re determined, but
for Brussels, where he will other people have to do
convene a meeting Thurs- their part because civiliza-
day of defense chiefs from tion has to fight for itself.”
about two dozen coalition A few coalition countries
countries, including most have made promises of in-
NATO members, Iraq and creased support in recent
the Gulf states. He indicat- days. The Netherlands,
ed he will, behind closed which has been carrying
Canada will end airstrikes against
Islamic State militant group soon
C. NORONHA Canadians, this is a non-
Associated Press combat mission,” Trudeau
TORONTO (AP) — Can- said. The Liberal leader
ada’s prime minister on said Canada’s contribu-
Monday announced that tion to the U.S.-led coali-
the country will end air- tion’s mission against the
strikes against the Islamic Islamic State group is being
State group in Syria and extended until the end of
Iraq by Feb. 22, saying that March 2017.
“the people terrorized by The U.S. had asked coali-
ISIL every day don’t need tion members to boost their
our vengeance, they need military contributions in
our help.” Iraq and Syria against the
Justin Trudeau, following Islamic State group after
up on campaign promises the deadly attacks in Paris
he made last year, also an- in November. However,
nounced that the govern- Trudeau’s promise that
ment will expand efforts to Canada would pull its jets
train local forces and re- was already part of his win-
build the war-torn region. ning campaign.
Military personnel in the “While airstrike opera-
region will increase to 830 tions can be very useful to
from the current 650 and achieve short-term mili-
provide planning, target- tary and territorial gains,
ing and intelligence exper- they do not on their own
tise. achieve long-term stabil-
“As I said many times ity for local communities,”
throughout the campaign Trudeau said during a news
in my commitment to conference Monday. q
