MORMUGAO PORT TRUST, India — Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday struggles within the Iraq government won’t stall the U.S. military campaign to beef up the fight against Islamic State militants in the country.
MORMUGAO PORT TRUST, India — Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday struggles within the Iraq government won’t stall the U.S. military campaign to beef up the fight against Islamic State militants in the country.
He said he expects the U.S. to ask other Persian Gulf nations next week to help in a broader effort to rebuild Iraq once the Islamic State group is defeated. President Barack Obama and other top U.S. officials are expected to attend the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ Summit next week in Saudi Arabia.
“Economically, it’s important that the destruction that’s occurred be repaired and we’re looking to help the Iraqis with that,” Carter said during a visit to the USS Blue Ridge, the U.S. Navy’s command ship for the Asia Pacific. He added that the reconstruction will be a “global” effort.
Carter said, however, that he does not expect the political problems to impede the U.S. plan to increase military support to the anti-Islamic State fight.
The Pentagon is preparing recommendations on ways to increase support for Iraq’s ground fight, including a likely increase in American forces. Other options could include using Apache helicopters for combat missions, deploying more U.S. special operations forces or using American military advisers in Iraqi units closer to the front lines.
“We’re going to accelerate the military campaign as fast as we can,” he said.