The ambassador says Iraq is open to working with other countries that are willing to help. Iraqi amb.: 'Immediate help' needed

Iraqi ambassador to the United States Lukman Faily emphasized that the United States is his country’s partner of choice — but that his country needs help immediately.

“At an extremely difficult time, we need immediate help to face an immediate threat,” Faily said on CNN Friday morning. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting.”


Faily’s interview came as extremist group ISIL made its way across the country, taking cities in its wake. President Barack Obama said that he would send up to 300 military advisors to assess the situation, but a debate still rages as to how involved the U.S. should become in the situation.

While Faily said repeatedly that the U.S. is Iraq’s ideal partner, he said that Iraq is open to working with other countries that are willing to help.

“We said if the Syrian Air Force attacked ISIL — an enemy to both of us — then we welcome it,” he said. “As far as Iran, no forces are on the ground.”

One of the first images of the crisis for American viewers were the American-trained Iraqi army laying down their arms, stripping their uniforms and running away from ISIL.

“It’s unfair to say we didn’t fight for ourselves,” Faily said.

When asked about the possibility of Iraqi president Nouri al-Maliki stepping down, Faily said that as a diplomat he was unable to comment.

“We are new in democracy,” he said. “We are developing, but we need immediate help to deal with a regional threat.”

This article tagged under: Iraq