Kerry Indicates U.S. Might Work with Shiite Extremists Against Sunni Extremists

Secretary of State John Kerry indicated to Yahoo News that he would be open to working militarily with Shiite extremist Iran to stop Sunni extremists in Iraq.

“I think we are open to any constructive process here that could minimize the violence, hold Iraq together, the integrity of the country and eliminate the presence of outside terrorist forces that are ripping it apart,” Kerry told Katie Couric.

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“I wouldn’t rule out anything that would be constructive to providing real stability, a respect for the (Iraqi) constitution, a respect for the election process, and a respect for the Iraqi people to form a government that represents all of the interests of Iraq — not one sectarian group over another,” he said.

Kerry said President Obama was giving the options presented to him a “thorough vetting.”

He also doubted that ISIS could take Baghdad. “I don’t believe that they will in the near term,” he said.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Friday about the temptation to get cozy with the Iranians.

“I’m very concerned about Maliki getting in bed with Iranians that, because us not really doing anything and waiting days to figure out what we might do, that the Iranians come in,” McCain said.

“I’m hearing rumors that some people say, well, that might be good in our interests. That would be a Faustian bargain, my friends. The Iranians are our enemies, and wherever we have anything to do with them, it would be a horrific mistake.”

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More P5+1 meetings on Iran’s nuclear program began today in Geneva, with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman and Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns leading the U.S. delegation.

The administration faces a July 20 deadline for a final deal with Iran.

“Don’t think for a minute that Iran is not looking at this vacuum as a potential power grab, as well,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday of the Iraq crisis. “And I think we need to be very cognizant of that fact.”

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