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Kerry: US trying to speed up efforts to defeat Islamic State

Posted November 23, 2015 6:00 am

By BRADLEY KLAPPER

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. wants to destroy the Islamic State "rapidly" and is accelerating military, counterterrorism and diplomatic efforts to defeat the extremists.

Kerry spoke as Brussels was in virtual lockdown over terror threats and before French President Francois Hollande's talks Tuesday with President Barack Obama in Washington. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds.

Kerry says Obama is asking everyone in his government to offer new ideas to eliminate IS.

Before the Paris attacks, the U.S. had already decided to send special forces to Syria, and Kerry was involved in efforts to forge a cease-fire between the Syrian government and non-terrorist rebel groups.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. The two men spoke briefly to the media after touring the mosque. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) The Associated Press

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