President Obama Approves Airstrikes in Iraq

Barack Obama says militants who threaten US personnel will be targeted, as planes drop food and water to persecuted Iraqis.

新聞背景：

美國總統奧巴馬說，他已授權對伊拉克北部的伊斯蘭極端武裝ISIS目標實施定點空襲，前提是該武裝對美國利益構成威脅。稱美國之所以采取行動是為了防止發生針對少數族群的種族屠殺事件。表示，美國不能也不應該在世界上出現危機時就出手干預。但美國可以“謹慎和負責地”采取行動，阻止種族屠殺事件的發生。

美國已對受到伊斯蘭極端武裝ISIS威脅的伊拉克地區提供人道援助的空投。在伊斯蘭極端武裝ISIS占領了伊拉克基督教社區最大的城鎮克拉克斯后，當地大多數伊拉克基督教徒已逃離家園。

美國官員說，美國向位于辛賈爾山外的少數族裔雅茲迪教派社區進行了空投。不少雅茲迪族人離開了家園，一些人在附近的山上躲避。

聯合國秘書長潘基文說，他對目前的局勢“深感震驚”。與此同時，美國警告說，伊拉克境內的少數民族境況正變成“人道災難”。

Today I authorized 2 operations in Iraq, targeted airstrikes to protect our American personnel and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of Iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food, and water and facing almost certain death. Let me explain the actions we are taking and why.

First, I said in June as the terrorist group ISIL began an advance across Iraq that the United States would be prepared to take targeted military action in Iraq if and when we determined that the situation required them. In recent days, these terrorists have continued to move across Iraq, and neared the city of Erbil where American diplomats and civilians serve at our consulate and American military personnel advise Iraqi forces. To stop the advance on Erbil, I’ve directed our military to take targeted strikes against ISIL terrorist convoys should they move toward the city. We intend to stay vigilant and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq, including our consulate in Erbil and our embassy in Bagdad. We are also providing urgent assistance to Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, so they can more effectively wage the fight against ISIL.

Second, at the request of the Iraqi government, we began operations to help save Iraqi civilians stranded on the mountain. As ISIL has marched across Iraq as it waged a ruthless campaign against innocent Iraqis. And these terrorists have been especially barbaric towards religious minorities, including Christian and Yezidis, a small and ancient religious sect. Countless Iraqis have been displaced and chilling reports describe ISIL militants rounding up families, conducting mass executions and enslaving Yezidi women. In recent days, Yezidi women men, and children from the area of Singar have fled for their lives. And thousands, perhaps tens of thousands are now hiding high up on the mountain, with little but the clothes on their backs. They are without food, they are without water. People are starving, and children are dying of thirst. Meanwhile ISIL forces below have called for the systematic destruction of the entire Yezidi people which would constitute genocide. So these innocent families are faced with a horrible choice. Descend the mountain and be slaughtered or stay and slowly die of thirst and hunger.

Now I have said before, the United States cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world. So let me be clear about why we must act and act now. When we face a situation as we do on that mountain with innocent people facing the prospect of violence on a horrific scale, when we have a mandate to help, in this case a request from the Iraqi government, and when we have the unique capabilities to help avert a massacre, then I believe the United States of America cannot turn a blind eye. We can act, carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide. That’s what we are doing on that mountain. I therefore authorized targeted airstrikes if necessary to help forces in Iraq, as it fights to break the siege of Mt. Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there. Already American aircrafts have begun conducting humanitarian airdrops of food and water to help these desperate men women and children survive. Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, there’s no one coming to help. Well, today America is coming to help. We’re also consulting with other countries, and the United Nations, we have called for action to address the humanitarian crisis. I know that many of you are rightly concerned about any American military action in Iraq, even limited strikes like these. I understand that. I run for this office in part to end our war in Iraq and welcome our troops home, and that’s what we have done. As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq. And so even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists. American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq.