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U.S. Scrambles to Help Iraq Fight Off Militants as Baghdad Is Threatened
(New York Times) Mark Landler and Eric Schmitt - The White House scrambled Thursday to reassure Iraq that it would help fend off militants who have overrun much of the country and now threaten Baghdad. A senior official said the president was actively considering American airstrikes against militant groups. President Obama said, "We do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in either Iraq or Syria, for that matter." Obama has steadfastly resisted being drawn into sectarian strife in Iraq or Syria. In Congress, most lawmakers expressed caution in committing to American airstrikes against militant targets. But some said it might be the only way to give the Iraqi security services time to reorganize and blunt the militants' offensive.