U.S. General Backs Limited Ground Operations Against ISIS if Needed

[choie]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress on Tuesday that he would recommend deploying United States combat forces against Islamic extremists in specific operations if the current strategy of airstrikes was not successful, raising the possibility of the kind of escalation that President Obama has flatly ruled out.

General Dempsey said that the ground forces would likely be Special Operations commands who could call in airstrikes from the ground.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, he said that while he was confident in the ability of the coalition of American, European and Middle Eastern governments to stop the Islamic State, he could not completely close the door to eventually asking Mr. Obama to commit ground troops to fight the group, known as ISIS or ISIL.

“My view at this point is that this coalition is the appropriate way forward. I believe that will prove true,” he said. “But if it fails to be true, and if there are threats to the United States, then I of course would go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of U.S. military ground forces.”



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/world/middleeast/isis-airstrikes-united-states-coalition.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=LedeSum&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

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Nah - we're not going to send in ground troops....just air strikes.... RIGHT!

[bigdarryl]

1. DRIP DRIP DRIP!!!!!

[strawberries]

2. I don't like this

We are heading into WWIII and I believe there willl be no winners. That's if we don't destory our planet. What a shame. It makes me want to grab my granddaughter and cry. I can't imagine the kind of life she will have

[SnakeEyes]

14. Been listening to Beck?

Since when is his lunatic conspiracy theories and warnings of world war that he spread on FOX years ago normal for DU?

[strawberries]

19. I don't mean to be rude

but, your name fits you well and what the hell are you talking about?

I don't speak of Fox like this board does, having my own opinion is just that my OWN opinion. Deal with it

[SnakeEyes]

20. I mean Glenn Beck used to go on

about how the world was spiraling into WW3 because of the Middle East a few years ago when he was on Fox. (probably still does). Remember his "middle east is on fire" map/chalkboard and his caliphate conspiracy talk that everyone mocked here?

[oldandhappy]

3. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

no no no no no

[KamaAina]

4. "Limited" ground operations?

Is it Vietnam yet?

[cstanleytech]

9. Only if they are given free rein to do what they want.

If its truly kept small and limited and we dont make the same mistake of giving the government a blank check again to do whatever they want I dont believe that there is much risk of it getting us into a vietnam type conflict.

[riverwalker]

5. and 2 US troops killed today in Afghanistan

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/big-blast-hits-near-u-s-embassy-in-afghan-capital/

[Jake Stern]

6. All it will take is one modern day Gulf of Tonkin Incident

to launch our full scale involvement.

[elehhhhna]

7. fuckin generals always wqnt more war

Thats why the cinc should be a civilian

[karynnj]

10. The CINC IS a civilian - President Obama! nt

ONLY President Obama can order in ground troops.

[elehhhhna]

17. I know. Thank GOD.

IIRC the only Generals we had as Prez wre Washington and Eisenhower (and Ike warned us about the MIC!).

[happyslug]

22. You forgot about Grant and Taylor.

Last edited Sun Sep 21, 2014, 12:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Further Washington was first and foremost a politician. He showed up in the Continental Congress in his uniform to remind people he had worked with General Braddock and Forbes in the French and Indian War. When New Englanders said he be a good General; the former soldiers who had Served with him said "Thank God he be out of Virginia". Pennslyvania seconded that motion and Washington found himself a General. By the time Washington ended up in Pennslyvania he had made sure he could not be replaced; less by good generalship then making sure people loyal to him had been appointed to key positions within the army. These ended up being mostly New Englanders but he had other people from key states.

In many ways the US needed a politician in charge of its army more then a competent general, and Washington was that politician.

Having bashed Washington's generalship I do have to point out Frederick the Great of Prussia called the retreat across New Jersey the greatest military maneuver of the age. It was more the product of the New England Militia (the best militia in the world at that time period, much better then the "almost useless militia" of the American South of the same tine period. The difference was known even to the British who treated New England Militia like regular troops for they had been trained that way since 1630. The southern militia main role was to catch runaway slaves thus had little if any training in actual military fighting.

Took Washington a few years to understand the difference, but the generals under Washington's command saw this difference quickly and treated them differently for that reason.

Grant called himself a businessman, but in many ways to honest to be a good one. Grant was kicked out twice from the army. Once before the Mexican War then again afterward.

Taylor like Eisenhower had been a professional soldier for decades. Fought Native Americans and had participated in the war of 1812. He came to fame as "old rough and ready" during the war with Mexico. Taylor won several battles in northern Mexico and for that won The Whig nomination in the 1848 election. When the issue of California being admitted into the union in 1850 he was for it even if his fellow southerners opposed it. He opposed the compromise of 1850 and was heading the country to civil war till he died. His successor was more willing ti work out a deal to avoid war.

T

[AngryAmish]

21. It doesn't help the State Department wants more war.

We have that lunatic at the UN trying to cause war everywhere she looks.

[CJCRANE]

8. Just say no.

[sus453]

11. Here is some interesting background

to this new and looming . . . "War on Terror" - from the journalist Patrick Cockburn:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/09/16/fear-of-isis-2/

[link:http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/09/16/fear-of-isis-2/|

[PeoViejo]

12. It's difficult to make General in Peace Time

War is a vehicle to the Top.

[lark]

13. Gee, a General wanting war!

How shocking is that?

[warrant46]

16. Mr. Dempsey A/K/A One of the World's Policemen

Can't wait to Napalm and Incinerate a few non believers .

Shocking !! </sarcasm>

[MisterP]

18. next up: "over by Christmas"

[4dsc]

23. Special forces(all services) are already on the ground

SO don't worry your little hearts over this news. They are more places than you can imagine.