Kerry Vows Islamic State Destruction as Coalition Forms
By Gregory Viscusi and Thomas Penny Sep 5, 2014 9:56 AM ET
A group of 10 nations met on the sidelines of a NATO summit to discuss how to combat Islamic State, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry vowed to eradicate the radical group that controls swathes of Syria and Iraq.
“We’re convinced that in the days ahead we have the ability to destroy ISIL,” Kerry said today in opening remarks before the meeting of the 10 foreign ministers, using an alternative acronym for the group. “It may take a year, it may take two years, it may take three years. But we’re determined it has to happen.”
Tackling Islamic State, which has uploaded Internet videos showing two American reporters being decapitated and a threat to kill a British citizen next, was the subject of a leaders’ dinner last night at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Newport, Wales.
The U.S. has carried out more than 100 air strikes against Islamic State positions, allowing Kurdish forces and the national Iraqi army to re-take some territory. France and the U.K. have air-dropped humanitarian supplies to stranded civilians fleeing the militants’ advance, while Germany announced it will deliver weapons to the Kurds.
France and Britain have discussed joining U.S. airstrikes, without making any commitments, according to officials from both countries. All have ruled out sending combat troops, and have linked further aid to the creation of an inclusive government in Baghdad.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-05/coalition-of-10-nations-meets-to-combat-islamic-state-in-iraq.html
