US Congressman Adam Kinzinger has criticized the Obama administration for pulling out troops from Iraq, saying the US Air Force is currently needed to end the latest violence in the country.
Å“The resurgence of violence in Iraq is a direct result of the Obama administrationâ„¢s short-sighted policy decisions and hurried withdrawal from the region,” Kinzinger said in a statement on Monday.
Å“Whatâ„¢s happening now dishonors all those who put their lives on the line to bring stability to this country, and I hope the administration learns from this lesson as we make strategic military decisions elsewhere in the region,” the Iraq war veteran added.
Clashes between Iraqi security forces and the al-Qaeda-affiliated militants have left tens of people dead and injured in the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar province over the past days.
Rep. Kinzinger said Washington should assist the Iraqi government with limited air power and intelligence operations.
Å“While we cannot reintroduce ground soldiers in Iraq after leaving, I do support robust intelligence operations and, in some cases, limited air power in assisting the Iraqi government,” the lawmaker told The Hill.
Last week, American Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham also criticized Barack Obama for mishandling the Iraq war.
Å“When President Obama withdrew all US forces from Iraq in 2011, over the objections of our military leaders and commanders on the ground, many of us predicted that the vacuum would be filled by America’s enemies and would emerge as a threat to US national security interests,” the Republican hawks said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, the White House defended its strategy in Iraq, saying a small contingency of troops would not be able to prevent the flare-up in violence.
“I don’t think I’ve heard members of Congress suggest this, but if members were suggesting that there should be American troops fighting and dying in Fallujah today, they should say so. The president doesn’t believe that,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said on Monday.
“There was sectarian conflict ” violent sectarian conflict ” in Iraq when there were 150,000 US troops on the ground there. So the idea that this would not be happening if there were 10,000 troops in Iraq I think bears scrutiny,” he added.
The United States says it is sending missiles and drones to Iraq to counter attacks by al-Qaeda militants.
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Source: Press TV