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UNO expert: Iraq violence threatens to destabilize Middle East

A UNO expert on the Middle East says violence in Iraq complicates U.S. security interests there.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, has taken control of Iraqi cities. Tom Goutierre is Dean of International Studies and Programs at UNO. He says the civil war in Iraq threatens the stability of other nations, including that of U.S. ally Jordan.

"In addition to that, one of our oldest NATO allies, Turkey, is the country which has been receiving the largest share of the Syrian refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. So all of these, of course, the civil war in Syria, the civil war in Iraq, just tend to destabilize the region."

Goutierre says a destabilized Middle East isn’t in the best interests of the U.S. But he says the violence in Iraq might result in a closer collaboration with Iran, since both nations are concerned about the impact of the violence.

President Obama announced Monday that 275 military personnel will go to Iraq to help with security.