U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday where he plans to discuss steps to accelerate (Reuters) the U.S.-led campaign against the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Carter will meet with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraq's defense minister, and they are expected to discuss the Pentagon's offer to provide Apache helicopters (NYT) as well as military aid to retake the city of Ramadi. While the Obama administration has called for the ramp-up of the fight against the group, Iraqi leaders remain hesitant about U.S. military presence (AP) in the country.
