ANOTHER US MILITARY INTERVENTION IN IRAQ IS 'A FOLLY': BILL JONES

Bill Jones says another US military intervention in Iraq would be “a folly” and opposed by Americans. (Photo: Press TV) — **Bill Jones says another US military intervention in Iraq would be “a folly” and opposed by Americans.** (Photo: Press TV)

Washington, 20 Sha’ban 1435/18 June 2014 (MINA) – An American political analyst says another military intervention in Iraq by the United States is a folly and most Americans oppose such a possibility.

“I think it’s absolutely a folly to get militarily involved again in Iraq,” said Bill Jones with the Executive Intelligence Review in a phone interview with Press TV on Tuesday as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Jones also said that “there’s a certain amount of hesitation on the part of the political leadership” in the United States with regards to a possible military intervention in Iraq “because of the general reaction that would occur within the general population of the United States as a result of this.”

Over recent days, militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have taken control of some key northern Iraqi cities including Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, and Tikrit, the birthplace of former Baathist dictator Saddam Hussein.

The militants, who have posted pictures of their atrocious acts against Iraqis online, have vowed to continue their offensive towards the capital Baghdad but Iraqi armed forces have advanced toward their strongholds. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has warned that the militants have nowhere to hide.

On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered an aircraft carrier and two guided-missile destroyers to move into the Persian Gulf should President Barack Obama decide to launch airstrikes against the ISIL militants in Iraq.

On Monday, Obama notified Congress that about 275 troops would be sent to Iraq to provide support and security for US personnel and the American Embassy in Baghdad.

Jones said that if such measures by the US “lead to even air strikes, it would be the first step in the wrong direction.”

In an interview with Yahoo News on Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Obama administration is “open to discussions” with Iran and does “not rule out” military cooperation with the Islamic Republic to help resolve the crisis in Iraq.

However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said Tehran sees no need to negotiate with Washington on the issue, adding that the Iraqi army is capable of dealing with the crisis itself. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)