Pentagon speaks of necessity, IS unlike anything before: US
Shia fighters from the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades), a group formed by Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and tasked with defending holy sites, hold a position on the Jurf al-Sakhr front line, amid heavy fighting by Islamic State militants. (Photo:
Washington: The sophistication, wealth and military might of Islamic State represent a major threat to the US that may surpass that once posed by al Qaeda, US military leaders said.
“They are an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it’s in Iraq or anywhere else,” defence secretary Chuck Hegal said.
“They marry ideology, a sophistication of military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. This is beyond anything we’ve seen,” Mr Hegal said.
Even after the gruesome killing of US journalist James Foley, President Barack Obama seeks to avoid becoming embroiled in another West Asian conflict. But US officials say they have not ruled out escalating military action against Islamic State.
“We haven’t made a decision to take additional actions, but we truly don’t rule out additional action against ISIL (sic) if it becomes warranted,” Ben Rhodes, a senior Obama aide, said.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that IS would remain a danger until it could no longer count on safe havens in areas of Syria under militant control.
“Can they be defeated without addressing that part of their organisation which resides in Syria? The answer is no. That will have to be addressed on both sides of what is essentially at this point a non-existent border.”
( Source : reuters )
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