Obama: ‘Because We’re Leading in the Right Way,’ Our Coalition Is Growing

"This is why we’ve spent the past several weeks building a coalition to aid in these efforts. And because we’re leading in the right way, more nations are joining us. Overall, more than 40 countries so far have offered assistance to the broad campaign against ISIL. Some nations will assist from the air, and already France and the United Kingdom are flying with us over Iraq, with others committed to join this effort. Some nations will help us support the forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. And already, Saudi Arabia has agreed to host our efforts to train and equip Syrian opposition forces. Australia and Canada will send military advisers to Iraq. German paratroopers will offer training, other nations have help resupply arms and equipment to forces in Iraq, including the  Kurdish Peshmerga. Arab nations have agreed to strengthen their support for Iraq’s new government and to do their part in all the aspects of the fight against ISIL. And our partners will help to cut off ISIL funding and gather intelligence and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East. And meanwhile, nearly 30 nations have helped us with humanitarian relief to help innocent civilians who have been driven from their homes, whether they are Sunni, or Shia, or Christian or Yazidi, or any other religious minority. And yesterday at the White House, I met with an outstanding American leader, retired marine General John Allen. He worked with Iraqi tribal leaders as they fought to reclaim their own community from terrorists and he’s going to serve as America’s special envoy to build and coordinate this incredible coalition. And I’ve called on Congress to make sure you’ve got all the authorities and resources you need to get the job done."