Obama does not rule out US strikes in Iraq – but no ground action

US President Barack Obama, asked Thursday about US air strikes against Islamists seizing large swathes of territory in Iraq, said: “"I don’t rule out anything because we do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in either Iraq or Syria." But officials later stressed he was not talking about ground troops. Obama was looking at "all options" to help Iraq's leaders. "In our consultations with the Iraqis, there will be some short-term immediate things that need to be done militarily," he said, suggesting arms supplies..