Obama approves additional military personnel to Iraq

WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- President Barack Obama authorized a request Tuesday for the deployment of approximately 350 military personnel to Baghdad in order to protect US diplomatic facilities and personnel.
The action was taken after, "after an extensive interagency review, and is part of the President's commitment to protect our personnel and facilities in Iraq as we continue to support the Government of Iraq in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)," said White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest in a statement. He asserted that these forces will not serve a combat role.
Earnest added this deployment, "will allow some previously deployed military personnel to depart Iraq, while at the same time providing a more robust, sustainable security force for our personnel and facilities in Baghdad." He reiterated that ISIL poses a threat to Iraq, the rest of the Middle East, and US interests in the region.
At the NATO Summit this week, Obama is expected to consult with the US' NATO allies about additional actions to take against ISIL and develop a "broad-based" international coalition.
Earnest indicated that Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Obama's counterterrorism advisor Lisa Monaco will travel separately to the region "to build a stronger regional partnership." (end) ak.gta