America's top general: We will act if ISIS threatens America or Europe - but Syria's and Iraq's neighbours will have to quash fanatics themselves
- General Martin Dempsey said he still believes insurgent group is more of a regional threat and is not planning attacks against U.S. or Europe
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff said he believes allies in region will join battle against militants
- He said he will recommend military action if group threatens U.S. homeland
America's top general has said he will only recommend military action against Islamic State militants in Syria directly if they become a threat to the U.S. homeland.
General Martin Dempsey said last night that he still believes the insurgent group is more of a regional threat and is not planning any attacks against the U.S or Europe.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff also said he believed key allies in the region, such as Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, will join the U.S. in its battle against the group.
General Martin Dempsey said last night that he still believes the insurgent group is more of a regional threat and is not planning any attacks against the U.S or Europe
While the Obama administration has so far restricted its military action against the militants to specific operations within Iraq, concerns have increased as Islamic State militants extended their reach, taking control of a swath of land stretching from Syria across the border and deep into western and northern Iraq.
The group took over Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, in June, and has since declared an Islamic state, or caliphate, in territory under its control in Iraq and Syria.
Speaking on a military plane en route to Afghanistan, Dempsey said: 'I think ISIS has been so brutal, and has wrapped itself in a radical religious legitimacy that clearly threatens everybody I just mentioned, that I think they will be willing partners,' said Dempsey, expressing optimism for the first time that the Arab nations would join in the conflict.
He said while the Yemen-based al-Qaida, in the Arabian Peninsula, plotted and attempted attacks against the U.S., leading to counterterrorism strikes against the group, there had so far been no sign that the Islamic State militants were engaged in 'active plotting against the homeland,' the Associated Press has reported.
He said: 'I can tell you with great clarity and certainty that if that threat existed inside of Syria that it would certainly be my strong recommendation that we would deal with it. I have every confidence that the president of the United States would deal with it.'
Dempsey went on to say that the regional partners could come together and squeeze the group 'from multiple directions in order to initially disrupt and eventually defeat them. It has to happen with them, much less with us.'
The Obama administration has so far restricted its military action against the militants to specific operations within Iraq. Pictured is an ISIS member in Raqqa, Syria
Most of the recent strikes have been around the Mosul Dam, which Islamic militants had taken, but it is now back in the hands of the Iraqi and Kurdish troops
Previously, when asked about airstrikes inside Syria, Dempsey and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel have said all options remain on the table, although there has so far been no broader authorization for such operations.
The Obama administration has authorized airstrikes within Iraq to protect U.S. personnel and facilities and to help Iraqi and Kurdish forces assist refugees driven from their homes by the Islamic State. Most of the recent strikes have been around the Mosul Dam, which Islamic militants had taken, but it is now back in the hands of the Iraqi and Kurdish troops.
Senior U.S. leaders, from the White House to the Pentagon, have said the key to success in Iraq is the formation of an inclusive government that will include disenfranchised Sunnis.
As the Islamic State militants moved across Iraq, some Sunnis - including some members of the Iraqi security forces - either threw down their weapons or joined the group.
Peshmerga fighters stand guard at Mosul Dam in northern Iraq last week
The U.S. has been encouraged as new Iraqi leaders, including Shiite prime minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, begin to take steps to form a new government and reach out to Sunnis.
Officials have suggested that any additional military assistance from the U.S. to Iraq is contingent on those political and diplomatic steps by the government.
One possibility, said Dempsey, would be to have U.S. forces provide more expanded advice and assistance to the Iraqi force.
He said military assessment teams looked at about 50 Iraqi brigades and a number of the Kurdish units and have a good idea which ones have appropriate training and equipment and have not been infiltrated by militia.
So far, Dempsey said the U.S. has not sought or received permission to put advisers into Iraqi brigades or headquarters units and accompany them into combat.
Senior U.S. leaders, from the White House to the Pentagon, have said the key to success in Iraq is the formation of an inclusive government that will include disenfranchised Sunnis. Pictured are ISIS militants on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria
To date, U.S. forces have conducted a total of 96 airstrikes across Iraq. Of those, 62 have been around the Mosul Dam.
The strikes have helped to break the insurgents' momentum, said Dempsey, and strip away some of the mythology that the Islamic State is impregnable or overwhelming.
Dempsey is on his way to Afghanistan to attend a change of command ceremony tomorrow. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford is stepping down as the top commander there; Army Gen. John Campbell will take over.
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