M A I N   N E W S

Obama: US troops won’t fight in Iraq

Washington, June 19
President Barack Obama said on Thursday the US would send up to 300 military advisers to support Iraqi forces confronting insurgents inspired by the al-Qaida and was prepared to take targeted military action if necessary.

But the US President, speaking at a news conference after meeting his national security team, said: "American combat troops are not going to be fighting in Iraq again. We do not have the ability to simply solve this problem by sending in tens of thousands of troops and committing the kinds of blood and treasure that has already been expended in Iraq," he said. "Ultimately, this is something that is going to have to be solved by the Iraqis." Obama said the military advisers would support Iraqi security forces in confronting the insurgents.

He said the US was prepared to take "targeted and precise military action" if the situation required. — Reuters