Iraqi leader asks US for more air power, weaponry [View all]

[Derek V]

Source: Associated Press

By ROBERT BURNS
Dec. 9, 2014 8:56 AM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday that his army is taking the offensive against the Islamic State group but needs more air power and heavy weaponry to prevail.

Hagel, who flew to Baghdad to get a first-hand report on progress against the Islamic State militants, held a series of meetings with top Iraqi government officials and conferred with American military commanders.

He met with al-Abadi at the prime minister's office after addressing a group of U.S. and Australian soldiers at Baghdad International Airport. Al-Abadi told Hagel as their meeting began that "Daesh (Islamic State) is on the descent at the moment." He said their capabilities had been reduced.

"We are very thankful for the support that's been given to us," al-Abadi said. "Our forces are very much advancing on the ground. But they need more air power and more ... heavy weaponry. We need that."

U.S. officials assert that the Iraqis' biggest need is competent military leadership, not additional military hardware.



Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/51e3094110574790b37e1c858bcba5b1/hagel-baghdad-meet-iraqi-officials

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That last line.