Article

2014-10-21 Iraq

Iraqi PM rules out foreign boots on the ground

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi on Monday ruled out any foreign ground intervention to assist government forces in retaking territory lost to militants and urged Sunnis to give up such hopes.

Abadi was speaking in the city of Najaf after a rare meeting with the most revered figure among Iraqi Shias, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, and before a trip to neighbouring Iran.

"No ground forces from any superpower, international coalition or regional power will fight here," Abadi told reporters, reiterating previous remarks on the issue. "This is my decision, it is the decision of the Iraqi government."

Some officials and Sunni tribal leaders in areas most affected by the unrest have argued the world should step up its involvement from air strikes to a ground intervention against the ISIS group.

"I am telling our brothers in Anbar and Salaheddin who asked for foreign ground troops that such an appeal should not be made for two reasons," Abadi said. "We don't need foreign combat troops. And there is no country in the world which would be willing to fight here and give you back your land even if they were asked to."

The prime minister had just met with Sistani, a reclusive Iranian-born cleric who is the highest Shia religious authority in the country. Iraqi state television said it was the first time in four years that Sistani had met a high-ranking Iraqi government official.

Abadi was due to travel to Iran later on Monday for talks on Iraq's war against the ISIS, which has since June seized control of swathes of the country and brought it to the brink of collapse.

Posted by Steve White 2014-10-21 00:00|| || Front Page|| [16 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iraq

#1 Unless of course the IS makes another run at Baghdad, in which case the pitter patter of size 12 boots would be welcomed.

Posted by ed in texas 2014-10-21 07:29|| 2014-10-21 07:29|| Front Page Top

#2 And there is no country in the world which would be willing to fight here and give you back your land

Being an American, I am, of course, ignorant of history. But didn't this exact thing just happen recently? Perhaps Bushhitler and Chainey could shed some light.

Posted by SteveS 2014-10-21 13:42|| 2014-10-21 13:42|| Front Page Top

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