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Obama spends morning on foreign policy crisis

President Barack Obama speaks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, about the ongoing situation in Iraq before his departure on Marine One for a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.
President Barack Obama speaks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, about the ongoing situation in Iraq before his departure on Marine One for a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

CHILMARK, Mass. – The White House says President Barack Obama is being briefed by his national security team on the latest military and political developments in Iraq and the situations in Ukraine and Gaza.

Two top Obama foreign policy advisers – national security adviser Susan Rice and deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes – are travelling with the president during his vacation on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard.

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The White House says Obama also spoke separately Monday with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Obama’s call with the Ukrainian leader comes amid Russia’s announcement that it will send a humanitarian convoy into Ukraine, a move the West strongly opposes.

The president also plans to speak at a Democratic fundraiser on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard Monday evening.

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