MESOP : IRAQ AT A CROSSROADS – OPTIONS FOR U.S. POLICY

Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Featuring James F. Jeffrey – July 24, 2014

The following is an excerpt; to read the full testimony or watch video of the hearing, go to: http://washin.st/1ujaxIb

The establishment of the Islamic State (IS) by the al-Qaeda in Iraq offshoot group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) changes the geostrategy of the entire Middle East, represents a dramatic setback to U.S. policy and interests, and requires an immediate response from Washington. The creation of an extremist quasi-state, analogous to Afghanistan under the Taliban, carries the risk of further escalation including a regional Sunni-Shia conflict, and an irreparable loss in U.S. influence. But the rise of ISIL first in Syria and now in Iraq reflects in part the nefarious effort by Iran to exploit sectarian divides to achieve regional hegemony. The U.S. government must counter both the IS threat and Iran’s quest for domination, bearing in mind that Iran is not our ally in the campaign against al-Qaeda terror. Above all, the U.S. must recognize that we are in a full blown crisis that requires action, even if politically risky…

James Jeffrey is the Philip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute.