Boehner says Obama is ‘taking a nap’ as terrorists make progress in Iraq

WASHINGTON – The Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives says President Barack Obama is “taking a nap” as terrorists capture Iraqi cities and move toward the capital of Baghdad.

Speaker John Boehner told reporters Thursday that the United States continues to have vital interests in Iraq, from which Obama has withdrawn American combat troops.

Boehner says U.S. progress in Iraq is clearly in jeopardy.

He says Obama’s focus should be on completing the U.S. mission there and says the president should get engaged before it is too late. He says the U.S. should provide equipment and technical assistance to the beleaguered Iraqi government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has asked his parliament to declare a state of emergency that would give him increased powers, but the lawmakers have not done so.