The US today asked Iraqi leaders to form a new government as soon as possible to unify the country as it confronts the very serious threat posed by Islamic militants who have captured a swathe of northern territory and declared Iraq and Syria a new Islamic state.
“It was important that Iraq’s new parliament convened today, as they pledged to do,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
“That was a good thing. But we do hope that Iraq’s leaders will move forward with the extreme urgency that the current situation deserves.”
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Iraq is facing existential threat from ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
“It is important for the leaders of that country to stand up, to work together to unify the country in the face of that threat. There is a rather tenuous security situation in that country right now, but that tenuous security situation is not going to be resolved solely through military action.
“The underlying root problem here is ensuring that every citizen in Iraq feels as if they have a stake in that country’s future and that country’s success,” Earnest said.
“So that’s why it’s so important for the leaders of that country, the political leaders of that country in Kurd, Shia and Sunni to come together and to act in line with the constitution, to quickly form a government and set about governing that country in an inclusive way.
“By doing that, they can adequately face down the threat that’s posed by ISIL and, in doing so, will have the strong support of the international community, including the United States of America,” he said.