• News Wrap: Iraqi forces begin large-scale assault on Islamic State

    News Wrap: Iraqi forces begin large-scale assault on Islamic State

    Jul 13, 2015 10:51 PM EST

    ... in effect for as long as necessary. We will have more on the fate of the Iranian nuclear deal later in the program. GWEN IFILL: Iraqi troops and Shiite militiamen began a long-awaited large-scale military assault against the Islamic State today. The operation targeted the western province of ...

  • Carter: Iraqi training goal to fall short by 17,000 recruits

    Carter: Iraqi training goal to fall short by 17,000 recruits

    Jun 17, 2015 04:14 PM EST

    ... of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, Iraq's three major ethnic groups. "As I've told Iraqi leaders, while the United States is open to supporting Iraq more than we already are, we must see a greater commitment from all parts of the Iraqi government," Carter said, adding that the Iraqi ...

  • Obama’s envoy says U.S. and allies have momentum against Islamic State in Iraq

    Obama’s envoy says U.S. and allies have momentum against Islamic State in Iraq

    Jun 16, 2015 11:20 PM EST

    ... hand right now in this conflict? GEN. JOHN ALLEN: Well, I think the momentum is growing, actually, on the part of the coalition and the Iraqis. If you look at the battle space across Iraq, Tikrit was recently liberated, which is not an insignificant city, frankly. And very important activity ...

  • Shields and Brooks on Obama trade bill defeat, deploying more troops to Iraq

    Shields and Brooks on Obama trade bill defeat, deploying more troops to Iraq

    Jun 12, 2015 11:17 PM EST

    Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s news, including a defeat for President Obama from his own party on a trade deal vote, the White House announcement that the U.S. will send more military trainers to Iraq, Hillary Clinton gears up for a big...

  • Will more U.S. military might in Iraq keep forces from ‘taking a licking’?

    Will more U.S. military might in Iraq keep forces from ‘taking a licking’?

    Jun 10, 2015 11:20 PM EST

    ... States already has 3,100 trainers and advisers in Iraq. On Wednesday, President Obama said he would send up to 450 more trainers to help Iraqi forces. The president said earlier in the week the United States lacks a “complete strategy” for preparing Iraqi forces to fight Islamic State militants ...

  • Year after Mosul capture, millions of Iraqis still need basic food and shelter

    Year after Mosul capture, millions of Iraqis still need basic food and shelter

    Jun 10, 2015 04:35 PM EST

    A year after Islamic State militants took control of Mosul, the number of Iraqis who have fled the besieged northern city has ballooned to more than a million people in need of basic food, water and shelter, Mercy Corps’ Iraq country director said Wednesday. “Mosul is pretty much cut off ...

  • U.S. to send more troops to Iraq for expanded training mission

    U.S. to send more troops to Iraq for expanded training mission

    Jun 10, 2015 04:27 PM EST

    ... Iraqi central government and instead work with individual ethnic groups, he said. Other analysts stressed that the challenge is greater than simply recruiting and training Iraqi troops. "U.S. support can help the Iraqi government, but no amount of support can make them win," said Jon Alterman, senior vice president ...

  • Iraq can’t wait years to defeat Islamic State, says ambassador

    Iraq can’t wait years to defeat Islamic State, says ambassador

    Jun 09, 2015 10:49 PM EST

    ... because it requires commitments on the part of the Iraqis as well. JUDY WOODRUFF: Joining me to discuss the fight against the Islamic State is Iraq's ambassador to the United States, Lukman Faily. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for being with us. LUKMAN FAILY, Ambassador, Iraq: Thank you for having ...

  • Obama: U.S. lacks 'complete strategy' for training Iraqis

    Obama: U.S. lacks 'complete strategy' for training Iraqis

    Jun 08, 2015 04:45 PM EST

    ELMAU, Germany -- Acknowledging military setbacks, President Barack Obama said Monday the United States still lacks a "complete strategy" for training Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State. He urged Iraq's government to allow more of the nation's Sunnis to join the campaign against the violent militants. Nearly one ...

  • Shields and Brooks on Dennis Hastert charges, Ashton Carter Iraq comments

    Shields and Brooks on Dennis Hastert charges, Ashton Carter Iraq comments

    May 29, 2015 11:23 PM EST

    Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s news, including the indictment and allegations of misconduct against former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s comments about the Iraqi army’s defeat at Ramadi, 2016 campaign announcements from Rick Santorum and George Pataki.