• 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 EDT

    ... 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 EDT

    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 EDT

    ... 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 EDT

    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 EDT

    ... 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 EDT

    ... 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 EDT

    ... told reporters Monday that the U.S. wants to be able to increase the number of Iraqi troops being trained, but to do that the Iraq government has to increase the number of troops it provides. As of June 4, the U.S. had trained 8,920 Iraqi troops at ...

  • 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 EDT

    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.

  • News Wrap: Biden calls Iraq’s PM after Carter comments

    News Wrap: Biden calls Iraq’s PM after Carter comments

    May 25, 2015 11:16 PM EDT

    In our news wrap Monday, Vice President Joe Biden called Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to try and to reassure the leader a day after the U.S. defense secretary blamed Iraqi forces for the loss at Ramadi. Also, for the first time in 14 years, no American troops were involved in major ground combat on...

  • Are strained relations with Iraq hurting the fight against Islamic State?

    Are strained relations with Iraq hurting the fight against Islamic State?

    May 25, 2015 10:44 PM EDT

    On Sunday, Defense Secretary Ash Carter blamed Iraqi soldiers for losing the key city of Ramadi to the Islamic State group. Iraqi leaders condemned the comments and a top Iranian commander charged that the U.S. is the one that lacks the will to fight. Judy Woodruff talks to Douglas Ollivant of the New America Foundation...