WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement today in response to the President’s announcement that the White House is sending U.S. military advisers to Iraq to help the government in Baghdad counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL):

“I support the President’s decision to provide limited U.S. military support to help the Iraqi government counter ISIL. Our decision to provide military support should be based on several principles:

“First, we must define our national interest. In this case, the principal national security interest is not to see a jihadist safe haven created in the heart of the Middle East, which could then export terrorism around the world – particularly to our shores. We cannot allow the creation of a safe haven that resembles Afghanistan prior to the September 11^th attacks.

“Second, we must be clear that the limited deployment of military advisers is not an opening to reintroduce conventional U.S. ground forces in Iraq.

“Third, we must identify what additional contributions we can make – short of ground forces – to maintain the stability of the Iraqi government, whether it is increased intelligence sharing, providing additional surveillance and reconnaissance assets, or other types of military assistance. We must ensure that U.S. military support does not serve to advance a sectarian agenda by the Iraqi government against Iraq’s minorities.

“Fourth, the decision to provide additional U.S. military support must be conditioned upon the Iraqi government dramatically increasing its inclusiveness of Sunni, Kurd, and other minority groups. In many ways, the current situation is the result of the exclusion or marginalization of Iraq’s ethnic and religious minorities by the Maliki government over the past eight years.  We should make clear that our continued support is contingent on the formation of an Iraqi government that represents the interests of all Iraqis.

“Finally, the crisis in Iraq cannot be separated from the Syrian civil war. This is a regional problem that demands a comprehensive strategy. I look forward to working with the Administration to advance a strategy that will protect our interests across the Middle East.”

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