No troops on the ground? US Troops Could Fight ISIS in Iraq, General Tells Senate

[cali]

It's beyond naive to think that new war or escalation or whatever you want to call it, won't lead to "boots on the ground".

The nation's top military officer opened the door slightly today to the possibility of American troops accompanying Iraqi forces on the battlefield against ISIS if needed.

The latest deployment of 475 American forces to Iraq includes 150 advisers who will be working closely with Iraqi brigades at the headquarters level to coordinate the Iraqi military's offensive operations against ISIS.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the advisers "will help the Iraqis conduct campaign planning, arrange for enabler and logistics support, and coordinate coalition contributions."

"To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president," said Dempsey, using one of several acronyms for the militant Islamic group that has taken over a large swath of Syria and Iraq. The group calls itself the Islamic State.

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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-troops-fight-isis-iraq-general-tells-senate/story?id=25537584

[philosslayer]

1. This will not happen

At least while President Obama is in office. He said no "boots on the ground". Period.

[atreides1]

4. Uh huh

We'll see how that works out!

[cali]

5. that just strikes me as painfully naive.

He may have said no boots on the ground, but it sure the hell isn't written in stone.

[grahamhgreen]

8. LOL. We weren't going to escalate, either.

[atreides1]

2. Advisors...

...why does that sound familiar?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Assistance_Advisory_Group

[DrDan]

3. they are "on the ground" now . . . c'mon

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Is it safe to assume that the "advisers" are wearing comfortable walking shoes rather than boots?

And, whatever arms they're toting are merely fashion statement accessories?

[H2O Man]

7. There is a powerful

tide of pressure trying to push this onto the American public. I hope that there is a good anti-war candidate in the 2016 democratic primaries.

Recommended.

[In_The_Wind]

9. Our troops aren't running around in 500 pairs of sneakers over there.

[ladjf]

10. There are only two place ISIS can be in Iraq. That is, out in the open or inside the local

homes and small buildings. A few dozen UAV's could loiter of most of the main locations. When they come out of the buildings, we attack. Remember, Iraq is no Viet Nam, no jungles or tunnels in which to hide. Iraq is a populated desert, no where to hide.

Our military should be able to solve this and come up with some offensive strategies that would stop ISIS in their tracks. Those rats would "leave the ship". But, then we'll have to chase them into their next "hole".