weapons the u.s. has been trying to rush to iraq the 1,000 of them now distributed to iraqi forces they re all there, but only 1,000 distributed, the others are being held in reserve by the u.s. they re not really sure the iraqis can absorb having such a new advanced inventory, such a great number of these weapons, but these are some of the key weapons the u.s. wants the iraqis to use to go against those new isis tactics, tanks and armored vehicles laden with explosives. the iraqis need something desperately to try to take the targets out. i certainly understand that barbara, but aren t u.s. officials concerned the iraqis might simply abandon these anti-armor weapons as they abandoned u.s. supplied humvees, battle tanks, other munitions if they feel threaten bid the isis terrorists? or overrun by them. look at the math for a second here. 2,000 of these anti-armor weapons rushed to the theater.
detailing isis growing strength and its ambitions to take territory across iraq. those ambitions now a surprise, what was a surprise was how the iraqi military melted away and failed to defend vital territory. their victory laps have become daily events. isis militants parading through iraqi cities they have overrun, driving american-supplied humvees and trucks they have stolen. with the u.s. trained iraqi military being overpowered, president obama said he s now including options including military action. his first step planning to deploy the aircraft carrier u.s.s. george h.w. bush to the persian gulf. a potential platform for air strikes. iraqi security forces have proven unable to defend a number of cities which has allowed the terrorists to overrun a part of
humvees that they have stolen and today president obama says he s considering options, including military action. his first step, planning to deploy uss george h.w. bush to the persian gulf, a potential platform for air strikes. iraqi forces have been unable to defend certain cities. this poses a danger to iraq and its people and given the nature of these terrorists, it could pose a threat to eventually american interests as well. reporter: ultimately, president obama and aides insist that any long-term solution depends on nouri al maliki finally welcoming sunnis and kurds into his government. just seven months ago when al maliki visited washington, the
but i have asked my national security team to prepare other options that could help support iraq security forces and i ll be reviewing those options in the days ahead. let s bring in jim sciutto. the president has something of a dilemma here? he has an enormous dilemma. remember, withdrawing from iraq seen as a foreign policy success and now there are serious questions about that and as you mentioned, boots on the ground are not an option and other options from air strikes to celebrating arms deliveries each carries risk and limitations and as isis advances towards the capital, there s little time for the president to decide. their victory laps have become daily events parading through iraqi cities they have overrun, driving american-supplied
american supplied humvees, weapons and ammunition, now in in their hands. the former american ambassador to iraq says if the fight reaches baghdad, it will destabilize the country and undercut global oil supplies. this is no longer a messy situation in is a catastrophe for the people of iraq, for american policy, and for the entire region. this is an extremely dangerous situation. it appears that no force can stop these people. reporter: a country in crisis. 2 1/2 years after american troops lowered the flag of command over baghdad, officially ending the u.s. military s presence in iraq. an operation that took the lives of over 4,000 u.s. troops. no indication yet the iraqi government is about to make the political compromises necessary to win this fight. at the same time, sectarian