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Kerry urges Syrians to fight 'Isis first' as Obama rules out combat mission – as it happened

This article is more than 9 years old
  • Obama says ‘no combat mission’ for US troops in Iraq
  • House of Representatives passes bill to arm Syrian rebels
  • Secretary of State John Kerry testifies before Congress
  • Kerry: ‘there will be some strange bedfellows’ in coalition
  • Senators criticise ‘Isis first’ policy and classified details
 Updated 
in New York
Wed 17 Sep 2014 18.00 EDTFirst published on Wed 17 Sep 2014 11.04 EDT
Secretary of State John Kerry
Secretary of State John Kerry testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the US strategy to defeat Isis. Photograph: JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS
Secretary of State John Kerry testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the US strategy to defeat Isis. Photograph: JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS

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Key events

Summary

We’re going to wrap our coverage of US military action against Isis for the day, with the key developments as follow.

President Obama rejected a combat role for American ground troops in Iraq. In a speech at Central Command in Tampa, Florida, he said: “forces deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission.” The statement clashed with the Pentagon’s suggestion that ground troops in combat were a possibility.

The House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing the US to arm Syrian rebels vetted by the government. The spending bill passed 273 to 156 with bipartisan backing, and the Senate could vote on the bill as soon as Thursday.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the US has an “Isil first” policy, even though it hopes Syrian rebels will turn their greater strength against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Kerry said “there will probably be some strange bedfellow moments in the campaign against Isis but called the regional coalition “unprecedented” and “transformative”.

Kerry said there were no plans for any non-Iraqi or Kurdish force to deploy ground forces, and said General John Allen would coordinate the coalition’s military action in the coming days.

The US is not cooperating with Iran, though Kerry said it would be “prepared to see whether or not Iran can contribute in a constructive way”.

Menendez gives a few parting words, thanking Kerry and describing “the confluence of challenges” and mentioning Ukraine, Ebola and the Middle East.

“This is going to be an issue in which more information and a steady flow of information and briefings will be critical to [Congress’] understanding and support for what I believe is our mutual mission. … I look forward and intend to hold classified hearings …

“I don’t question anyone’s intentions here, and there are many legitimate questions when it comes to putting America’s sons and daughters in harm’s way. … We are strongest when we speak in one voice … and it is that unity of purpose that is critical. This is a moment when politics must stop at the water’s edge. … I look forward to workign with my colleagues to work together again in this most critical case. I think we can.

“And finally to those who are concerned about the role of the US military in other countries, [I can only say we must face] the world as it is, and not as we wish it to be.”

A senator now asks Kerry about Turkey: “Turkey doesn’t want to become part of our combat operations because Isil has hostages from Turkey; at the same time Turkey has become a destination [for oil]. In fact the smuggled oil has now become the lifeblood of the Isil army. So talk a little about Turkey, and the effort to shut [Isis] down.”

“Talk about what we have to do with Turkey to get them to shut this down.”

Kerry demures. He says “Turkey understands the challenges … and will have to make some decisions in the days ahead” – but that he would have to talk with the senator behind closed doors to divulge any details.

Kerry’s reticence and the senator’s stark assessment – a porous border, Turkish hostages that compromise Ankara, and a rich road of oil for Isis – suggest that Turkey’s role in the crisis is both critical and extremely problematic.

Asked by Senator Ed Markey about the coalition, Kerry again praises the progress made by Middle Eastern countries in cooperation.

He says people have not focused enough on “the Iraq story”, and he praises efforts by Sunni ministers, Kurdish leaders and the Shia majority: “they came together, put together a new government, actually ratified a new prime minister. … People need to recognize that that’s a big step forward, and we need to take that further.”

Paul “finds it unthinkable that the president wouldn’t get a vote” and blames the politics of the midterm for the muted congressional outcry over the president’s actions: “people are petrified by the electorate”.

Kerry: “You are stating that the president has violated the constitution. The president has … not violated the constitution. … I think that while every legal analysis suggests that while you may not like it [Paul interrupts] … the president has the right under article two to defend this nation. … He has lived absolutely within this constitutional prerogative.”

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Senator Rand Paul is questioning Kerry, saying that he’s “disappointed in the president for disobeying the constitution”.

He says that the president needs Congress’ permission, and that by the logic of the administration’s justification for attacking Isis, “the 2001 AUMF could be used to justify going after the moderate Syrian rebels”.

Paul goes on to accuse the administration of doing something “illegal”. “There should’ve been a vote, that would’ve been true leadership … The president used to believe this … as he said no president should unilaterally go to war – so I liked the president as a candidate on this but not as a president.”

Paul then carps on the same point as many other senators, saying that it’s not clear whether the Syrian opposition can be trusted, or at least counted on.

“I think we have allowed more of a safe haven for Isil … by arming the Syrian opposition … because the weapons do not stay where intended … and may have unintended consequences.”

The House passes a bill to arm Syrian rebels

As expected, the House of Representatives has voted to authorize the US to equip the Syrian opposition that it deems “moderate”.

The authorization was added to a spending bill that ensures the government will continue operating past budget year ends after 30 September.

The Guardian’s Dan Roberts breaks down the vote, which was unusually bipartisan:

Amendment authorising Obama to arm Syrian rebels passes House by 273 to 156 votes but with 85 Democrats and 71 Republicans voting against.

— Dan Roberts (@RobertsDan) September 17, 2014

The Senate will likely also back the program, possibly voting as soon as Thursday.

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Asked whether the US can be confident that the Syrians that it arms will not join Isis or tend toward extremist groups, Kerry says “there’s no failsafe”.

He adds that now that training will occur in the open and with greater coordination, the US can exercise “a greater amount of control”.

“There probably will be some strange bedfellow moments.”

Kerry is now addressing a question from Senator Chris Coons about the prospect of a regional units of national guard in Iraq, as a new solution (and replacement) for Iraqi army units that collapsed as Isis invaded south into Iraq in June.

Kerry says the key is tying the group to Iraq’s central government (presumably though pay and oversight of regional commanders), while also having units comprise locals from each region of Iraq.

Coons says he’s very concerned about the security of Jordan – and that Isis has tried to infiltrate the country. “What are we doing and what more can we do to strengthen King Abdullah?”

Kerry says “we’re working very very closely with our friends in Jordan … we’re [committing] additional funds, committing additional capacity.” He adds that resources and “intel to intel” will be even “more robust” in the weeks ahead.

Kerry: 'Isil first'

McCain: “So we’re telling a young Syrian today, I wan’t you to join the Free Syrian Army ‘Youve got to fight Isis first. And by the way these barrel bombs that they’re dropping on you, and are massacring so many … we’re not going to do anything about it.’ … So why is it that we won’t at least neutralize Bashar al-Assad’s air activity that has slaughtered thousands and thousands and thousands?

“And finally, Isil first, that’s what you’re telling these young men – who really Assad has slaughtered their family members? How do you square that circle?”

Kerry: “Let me square it this way … [It’s] correct that they won’t stop fighting the Assad regime.”

McCain: “They won’t stop fighting, it’s their primary goal.”

Kerry: It is, it is. But they are also fighting Isil. And our belief is … that they will actually get stronger as a result of Isil being removed from the field.

McCain: Are you not going to protect them from air strikes?

Kerry: That is a legitimate concern, and it’s a concern I would have to address with you in a classified session, as you well understand.

McCain: I think the Free Syrian Army would like to understand as well.

Kerry: [But Isis] was threatening Baghdad, and they were threatening more.

McCain: I’m talking about Syria and the Free Syrian Army.

Kerry: We’re talking about capacity … it could be Isil you see in Damascus. Clearly many of the people told them in the region that success breeds success … we believe that transition works to the benefit of the moderate opposition. … I don’t believe anyone in the region is going to stop until the Assad situation is resolved, and I don’t believe [it will stop unless Isis is resolved. [There will be] “two prongs”.

McCain: I hope that there are two prongs and not Isil first.

Kerry: Well if we don’t stop Isil first there may not be another prong.

McCain: That means we cannot take on two adversaries at once and that is bogus and false.

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Senator John McCain takes the mic and cuts right to the chase, quoting former secretary of defense Robert Gates’ assessment that the US cannot oust and destroy Isis without ground troops. He hails “the architects of the surge” who espouse such a strategy.

McCain: “Is it your view that the Syrian opposition is viable?”

Kerry: “It has been viable enough to survive…”

McCain: “Are you surprised by the degrees of misinformation that members of Congress will swallow whole, such as that the Free Syrian Army and Isis have agreed on a ceasefire?”

Kerry: [chuckles] “Sometimes.”

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Senator Tom Udall says “I don’t want us to lose sight of the forest from the trees” – and calls the US’s path “a very risky course”.

“Military power is one tool, one among many tools needed to bring stability to the region … Isis [rose] out of disorder … We must destroy Isis but we cannot put ourselves in the situation of creating a void, one that could be filled by other extremists or by an Iranian-controlled regime.

He asks how the US can be sure that arms won’t end up in the hands of extremists.

Kerry says the US is providing non-lethal support and “vetting people … the president has been very concerned about this question of ‘downstream’ … but by and large we’ve found the vetting to be very effective. Our guys have been doing this for about 20 years now … and they’ve gotten pretty good at it.”

* This post originally misidentified Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico as Senator Mark Udall of Colorado – apologies for the error.

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Senator Jeff Flake asks about the timeline of the mission – noting that the terms have continuously changed – and “question[s] the unwillingness to come and ask for a renewed AUMF”.

“Can you enlighten me why the change of heart from the last hearing [about strikes against Bashar al-Assad in 2013]?”

Kerry: “We did not have authority in any form without Congress passing it, except article two … but the president has publicly announced the decision to strike [now]. Then, the 2001 AUMF did not cover chemical weapons with Assad, it covered terrorism and al-Qaida.”

He reiterates the administration’s rationale that Isis’ terrorist links make the AUMF valid authority for US strikes.

Flake says he hopes “we have a better explanation than that when we go to our allies and say we’re in it for the long haul”. He fears another instance of “a red line” and “thinks there’s an inconsistency here”, but that he hopes the administration asks for a new AUMF.

Durbin asks “which countries are aiding and abetting the Isil cause?”

Kerry: “We don’t believe at this point that it is state supported … We have raised how they could possibly [be selling oil]?”

Durbin: “Through which borders?”

Kerry: “Through the borders, through Turkey, Lebanon…”

They briefly pause over the problems Turkey has securing its border and its hesitancy to mount a full-fledged participation in the offensive. Kerry adds that the US and its partners are looking to choke off independent financiers of Isis.

Senator Dick Durbin: “I look at Syria and see a dog’s breakfast of violence and terrorism and deceit that has gone on for three years. Here we are talking about arming, equipping and training.”

“It looks to me like there are at least three identifiable forces in Syria: Assad, Isil and what we hope are moderate opposition, but I’m also told there are up to 1,500 militia. … How can we find the so-called moderate opposition in Syria?”

Kerry: “A very good question.” He describes some of the chaotic and devastating problems faced by the Syrian rebels in the past two years, particularly.

And then Kerry says “All of that has changed now,” and cites better coordination and a more concerted focus on Isis. He says that the new assistance should create “greater structure” and capabilities which can then be turned against Assad after Isis is defeated.

Senator Ron Johnson asks whether the US isn’t just “poking [a] hornet’s nest with a stick” and whether Isis doesn’t need to be “taken out completely”.

“Don’t we just increase the time that we’re under threat and danger?”

Kerry: “Well, we hope not. … Why do we have to focus first on Isil? Because they’re seizing and holding thousands of square miles of territory, because they’re claiming to be a state … because they’re defeating a conventional army with conventional tactics … because they’re avowed genocidists.”

“And they have a very large amount of money, unlike other terrorist organizations … And so even al-Qaida, bold as they were, didn’t exhibit these characteristics and have these capacities. And we think most of the region has come to understand this, including the moderate opposition, who is already fighting Isil. So we believe we have the beginnings to make a significant impact. … I guarantee you the president’s goal is to defeat them.”

He says the president and State Department will continue to evaluate as the offensive proceeds.

New Hampshire’s Senator Jeanne Shaheen brings up the James Foley, Steven Sotloff and both men’s families, saying that she’s concerned by reports saying the Foley family was not supported by the Obama administration.

She asks him to comment on how the US, in administrations current and future, should do more to support American hostages and their families.

Kerry recounts the tortuous efforts by the State Department, military, Shaheen personally and the hostages’ families, and says that “everybody here just shudders at what [the families] have to go through.”

He says he watched the failed rescue mission unfold as the US military tried to rescue Foley and Sotloff, and that the US “has got to make sure people feel better about the process” should circumstances ever be akin to those of the victims and their families.

Florida’s Senator Marco Rubio asks whether the president will deploy American ground troops in a combat role in Iraq.

Kerry rejects it outright, pointing out that the president has said several times it will not happen, regardless of what may be suggested as a military option.

Rubio cites the analysis of military commanders past and present who say ground forces would be necessary to weed out and dismantle Isis, and sharply says that he’s not talking about “hypotheticals”. Kerry replies by saying the US is only looking at what the current state of affairs, and that the president has made a decision.

Rubio says he considers Iran “just as evil as Isis” and that any cooperation with that country – which Kerry has just repeated is not happening – would be a terrible mistake.

When asked about competing Syrian interests of fighting Assad and Isis, Kerry simply says: “Isil first, that’s our policy.”

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