The Latest in Iraq
The crisis pitting two branches of Islam against one another is deepening. Sunni fighters are continuing their advance into towns and cities while the Shiite-led government struggles with a response.
Â
Craig Boswell has the latest in news from around the world.
Â
Sunni militants as have captured another Iraqi city…Tal Afar in the Northern part of the country.
Â
The group.. called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.. Â also released these photos – Â claiming to have slaughtered more than 17-hundred captured Iraqi soldiers. Â CBS News can not confirm the authenticity of the photos or verify the number of men killed.
Â
The militants have vowed to take Baghdad.. and the city’s Shiite men are following a call from their spiritual leader to take up arms against the Sunni fighters.Â
Â
(Craig Boswell/CBS News/The White House)
The Obama administration is considering talks with Iran in an effort to stabilize the Iraqi government.. a move some lawmakers reluctantly support.
Â
(Sen. Lindsey Graham/(R) South Carolina/Courtesy: Â “Face the Nation”)
“WE NEED TO MAKE SURE BAGDAD DOESN’T FALL, SO YES, WE NEED A DIALOGUE OF SOME KIND WITH THE IRANIANS.”
Â
But Former Deputy CIA Director Mike Morrell says the U-S doesn’t want Iran gaining a foothold in Iraq. Some Iranian fighters are already there.
Â
(Mike Morrell/CBS News Sr. Security Contributor)
“WE NEED TO HELP THE IRAQI’S, THE MODERATE GULF STATES NEED TO HELP THE IRAQI’S, WE NEED TO KEEP IRAN OUT OF THIS.”
Â
President Obama is weighing what military action the US might take. Secretary of State John Kerry says drone strikes may be an option. Ships are moving into position – The USS Mesa Verde…an amphibious transport dock ship carrying 500 Marines, joined the aircraft carrier the U-S-S George H. W. Bush in the Persian Gulf today.
Â
Craig Boswell, CBS News, The White House.>
Â
The US is also beefing up security at the embassy in Baghdad.
some of the staffers are temporarily transferred to other posts.
Â
