Iraq's Prime Minister Flies To The U.S. To Seek Assistance In Fighting Terror Groups

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks during the opening ceremony of the Defence University for Military Studies inside Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone June 17, 2012. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

Iraqi PM Flies To U.S., Seeking Arms To Fight Militants -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki travelled to the United States on Tuesday to press for urgent help and arms to combat the worst upsurge of violence in years.

Nearly three years since the last U.S. troops withdrew, Sunni Islamist militants are waging a campaign to destabilize the Shi'ite-led government that came to power after former dictator Saddam Hussein was overthrown in 2003.

Trained and equipped by the United States at a cost of $25 billion, Iraq's security forces are struggling against Sunni Islamist insurgents who have driven the civilian death toll so far this year above 7,000.

"The urgent thing is to supply Iraq as quickly as possible with weapons of an offensive nature to combat terrorism and chase the armed groups," Maliki said at an airport news conference before his departure.

Read more ....

Iraq's Prime Minister Flies To The U.S. To Seek Assistance To Fight Terror Groups

Iraq PM heads to US to seek security support -- AFP
Iraq's Maliki to seek U.S. arms, role on Iran and Syria -- Reuters
Iraq's premier to seek security help from the US -- AP
Iraqi Prime Minister to Washington: Help Us Fight Terrorists -- Haaretz
Iraqi PM heads to Washington for talks with US top officials -- Global Times

My Comment: The situation in Iraq is quickly deteriorating .... and  Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki knows that.