HENRY Kissinger has urged US President Barack Obama to “launch an all-out attack” on the terrorist group Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, warning that Americans have become “bystanders” in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview, the former US secretary of state said air strikes should be of “limited duration as a punitive measure” and “not make any distinction between Syria and Iraq”.“There can’t be any debate any more about fighting them,” he said.
Dr Kissinger, an influential force in US foreign policy for more than four decades, accused Mr Obama of failing to appreciate that other countries yearned for American guidance in the Middle East and other crisis areas.
“We don’t have the power to impose our preference, but without us, and without some leadership from us, the new order cannot be created,” he said. “That I think has not (been) understood.”
He said Mr Obama “has not understood all the currents that need to be dealt with” in the world.
During last week’s NATO summit in Wales, Britain and America announced a 10-nation coalition to “degrade and ultimately destroy” Islamic State.
The criticism of Mr Obama by Dr Kissinger, 91, will increase pressure on the White House to order military
action in Syria as well as Iraq. “In my view, this should have happened already,” Dr Kissinger said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron will begin a diplomatic blitz this week to drum up support from Arab countries for air strikes on Iraq after warnings from Labour and the Liberal Democrats that they will not back military action unless Saudi Arabia or Qatar are on board. Downing Street confirmed on Saturday that Mr Cameron would attend the UN general assembly on September 24 where Britain and the US hope to unveil a broader coalition of the willing. Aides confirmed he would woo Gulf Arab leaders over the next two weeks to join the “core coalition”.
Cameron also plans to work with Obama to win UN approval for a crackdown on foreign fighters after moves to strip passports from British militants going to fight in Syria and Iraq. Sources say Cameron will also ask his officials to draw up plans to do more to assist the moderate opposition in Syria, which risks being wiped out in battles with Bashar al-Assad’s troops and Isis militants.
Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, last night issued the first details of the “comprehensive” plans to defeat Isis[1], also known as Islamic State or Isil, that are being mapped out with Britain’s “international allies and regional partners”.
He said: “This will involve a mix of humanitarian, military and diplomatic efforts with different nations making contributions including: training and advising the
Iraqi security forces; arming, training and advising the Kurds; technical and political support to an inclusive Iraqi government, reinforcement of neighbouring countries against Isil and continuing surgical strikes on Isil.
“While we have said there will be no British combat boots on the ground, we have ruled nothing else out at this stage.”
Kissinger, who served as national security adviser and then secretary of state under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1969 until 1977, has been consulted by Democrats as well as Republicans. Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said she had “relied on his counsel” as secretary of state, though Obama has not sought him out.
thepuffington.com
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