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　　WASHINGTON— Western engagement continues to intensify in Iraq, where the UnitedStates and Britain are delivering humanitarian supplies while U.S. air strikes targetradical Sunni militants.

　　Airdrops of food and drinking water are providing desperately-needed relief to religiousminorities who fled Islamic insurgents in northern Iraq.

　　Meanwhile, a U.S. bombing campaign continues to target posts and equipment used bymilitants threatening the northern city of Irbil.

　　President Barack Obama has ruled out U.S. ground troops in Iraq, but summed up America’sgoals this way:

　　“We have to make sure that ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is not engaging in theactions that could cripple a country permanently. I do not think we are going to solve thisproblem in weeks - it is going to take some time,” said Obama.

　　Ultimately, what Iraq needs is a political solution in Baghdad, according to British ForeignSecretary Philip Hammond.

　　“At the moment, our focus is on supporting humanitarian efforts, trying to deal with thegrowing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and waiting to see as the new government is formed whetherit will be an inclusive government that we can get behind in its efforts,” said Hammond.

　　President Obama’s critics in Congress see the stepped up engagement in Iraq as too little toolate. Republican Senator Ted Cruz sees no clear objective.

　　“What is happening in Iraq is the latest manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clintonforeign policy. I am glad the president is finally demonstrating some leadership, taking thethreat from ISIS (aka ISIL) seriously. But unfortunately he is following the pattern that hascharacterized his foreign policy from the beginning of his tenure. He has laid out no clearly-defined objective that we are trying to accomplish,” said Cruz.

　　But Iraq is but one global hotspot demanding America’s attention, according to former U.S.ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill.

　　“People are paying attention to Iraq, but there are a lot of other crises in the world that mayhave drowned it out or reduced the bandwidth for Iraq. ISIS, whatever its origins, it is prettyclear that it is part of a situation in Syria that has metastasized into Iraq,” said Hill, speaking inABC’s This Week program.

　　Gripping images of Islamic State militants captured by Vice News and broadcast by ABC showmilitants parading captured military equipment, recruiting young followers, and making a boldclaim - that their flag will one day be raised at the White House.