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August 19, 2014

Obama Hails "Major Step" as Kurdish, Iraqi Forces Retake Mosul Dam 
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Kurdish and Iraqi forces say they have retaken control of the Mosul Dam,
reversing one of the Islamic State's key achievements in its sweep
through northern Iraq. The apparent victory over the Islamic State,
known widely as ISIL, follows the most intensive U.S. airstrikes of the
bombing campaign that began earlier this month. The Iraqi government now
says it has launched an operation to retake the town of Tikrit. At the
White House, President Obama praised what he called "a major step
forward" in Iraq and said he believes his decision to launch U.S.
strikes is in the national security interest. Obama also said an
escalation of U.S. involvement is "less likely" if the new Iraqi
government adopts an inclusive approach.

President Obama: "We've got a national security interest in making sure
our people are protected and in making sure that a savage group that
seems willing to slaughter people for no rhyme or reason other than they
have not kowtowed to them, that a group like that is contained. … Our
goal is to have effective partners on the ground, and if we have
effective partners on the ground, mission creep is much less likely."

 

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