Defeating the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant at its core in Syria and Iraq and globally is critical among his many global defense concerns, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking on the third day of the forum with Klaus Schwab, founder of the international organization for public-private cooperation, the secretary got right to the point of his trip to Europe this week, where he has been in discussions with his counterparts in the more than 60-nation U.S.-led coalition against ISIL.
Defeating ISIL is “very much on my mind,” Carter told Schwab. “It will occur, and needs to occur first and foremost in Syria and Iraq,” where the “parent tumor” of the terrorist organization exists, he said.
But more than that, because ISIL is a global concern, it must be defeated wherever it exists now and in the future, the secretary said.
He emphasized the importance of accelerating operations to deliver ISIL a final defeat before it can metastasize around the world and penetrate nations’ homelands. “We need to protect ourselves, our people. … And we will,” he said.
A vital part of the accelerated campaign is for coalition nations and others to step up and do more to bring down the organization, Carter said. And while he’s grateful for Turkey hosting a base for U.S. aircraft, he said, Turkey must do more, based on its pivotal position bordering Iraq and Syria. But Turkey is just one on a list of nations Carter said, that should make contributions that are “distinctive, unique and necessary to the defeat of ISIL.”
Indigenous Forces Key to ISIL’s Defeat
The secretary called the strategic approach of the coalition enabling capable and motivated local forces in Iraq and Syria “critical,” particularly after Iraqi forces took back the key city of Ramadi from ISIL control.
“We've had the experience of trying to occupy places we have to clear of terrorists, and that's something difficult for foreigners to do,” he added in support of indigenous forces taking the lead in their territories.
Issues Keep Carter Up at Night
A long list of global concerns keeps him up at night, Carter said.
One is Iran. While the recent nuclear deal with the Iranians is important, it doesn’t solve all the problems there, he said.
“We're still concerned about [Iran’s] malign influence in the region, freedom of navigation, ballistic missiles and other issues,” such as protecting U.S. longtime Gulf region friends and allies such as Israel, Carter said.
North Korea, a country Carter said takes self-isolating steps by testing a nuclear weapon, also remains on DoD’s watchful radar. The secretary noted the “fight tonight,” posture of U.S. and South Korean forces on the Korean Peninsula. “It's not that we want to fight tonight,” he said, “but up on the [Demilitarized Zone] … you have to be ready every night.”
China and Russia
Looking ahead and more geopolitically is what Carter called “a competitive situation” with Russia in Europe and with China in Asia. The new defense budget Carter said he’ll present to Congress will allow for new investments in the defense of Europe and NATO territory as a consequence of Russia's aggressive behavior in Ukraine. “I wish it weren't so,” he said. “For a quarter century, we haven't had to make those investments. Now we will.”
The U.S. military has contributed to peace and stability in Asia for 70 years, the secretary said. “We aim to keep that going,” the secretary said. The U.S. military’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region is expected to keep the natiion’s historical role intact in that part of the world, he added.
“You can't take for granted the environment of peace and security,” he said.
Technology Vital to U.S. military
Meanwhile, the United States must stay ahead as it has historically in all technological areas of warfare and security, Carter said.
“If we're going to continue to do what we need to do, which is stay ahead of a dangerous world, we need to do that in a different way,” he said, noting the need for global government and industry partnerships.
“For public officials to protect the public space so private companies and people can do what they're supposed to do, I need their help in today's world, which means I need their understanding,” the secretary said.
And DoD’s ongoing partnerships with other nonmilitary federal agencies are just as critical, he added.
“I can't do everything … in terms of defeating ISIL without [Secretary of State] John Kerry's political efforts in Syria,” Carter said. “I can't do [it] without Homeland Security, law enforcement [and] our border security.”
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)