There was a muted response across the Gulf region early Thursday to a decision by President Barack Obama to begin U.S. airstrikes in Syria and expand the campaign in Iraq to destroy Islamic State.
Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council have previously expressed skepticism of U.S. rhetoric for further intervention against Islamic State, without knowing the full details of U.S. participation or the role expected of their own militaries.
“We are now seeing clearly that there is a determined president who wants to take a lead. This is a chance for America to make a comeback,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, professor of political science at Emirates University in Al Ain. “This is a blessing in disguise.”
A combined response to Obama’s campaign is expected later Thursday, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visits Saudi Arabia to meet leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. The group of Arab nations has itself been divided on support for Islamic groups in the more than three years since the Arab Spring uprisings.
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