Mail.com
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and its Gulf partners should wait to see whether Iraq can resolve its political crisis before committing more financial aid, arguing that the paralysis is impeding U.S.-led efforts to defeat the Islamic State group and reconstruct the war-torn country.
Closing out a brief trip to Saudi Arabia, Obama also warned that a fragile cease-fire in Syria is on the verge of collapse, but he offered few hints about any alternative U.S. strategy if it does. He pledged vigilance about Iran and sought to allay Saudi concerns about its regional archrival, but he also told Persian Gulf leaders that last year’s nuclear deal had made the region safer. Continue reading “Obama says political progress needed before more Iraq aid”