Iraq exacerbates America-Russia standoff on destroying Islamic State

In case of an official address from Iraq to the Russian Federation, the leaders of our country would study the political and military expediency of our Air Force's participation in an air operation. Presently we have not received such an address...

Iraq's concern at destroying Islamic State has been heightened following Islamic State claiming responsibility for a series of bombings that killed more than 50 people throughout Iraq on 5 October.

Abadi's wish for Russian intervention to be co-ordinated with the American-led coalition has offered Obama probably the last opportunity to come to an agreement with Russia on forming a legally constituted armed military force authorized pursuant to a Security Council Resolution under Article 42 of the UN Charter.

Obama's past insistence that any America-Russia co-operation be conditioned upon President Assad's removal has stymied any possible earlier attempt.

Abadi's timely lifeline should be grabbed by Obama before Syria and Iraq slide into an escalating conflict of indescribable carnage. Abadi could invite Russia to come to its assistance without American co-ordination if Obama continues to delay seeking Russia's co-sponsoring of such a Resolution.

Obama should heed President Putin's advice expressed in his New York Times op-ed on 11 September 2013:

We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today's complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not. Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression.

Obama's failure to test Putin's sincerity could risk America's Middle East policy being seriously compromised.