How Much Has the U.S. Fight Against ISIS Cost?
Advertisement
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the deployment of the force in congressional testimony on Tuesday.
Special operations forces could soon be heading to Iraq, to help our allies fight ISIS. He said there won’t be many of what he called “trigger-pullers”. Carter said that number may increase over time if the current 50 prove effective. He said it will be a “standing” force, meaning it will be stationed in Iraq.
Though the new special forces troops will be based in Iraq, they will have the ability to also conduct raids across the border into northern Syria.
“We have the best intelligence in the world, Andrea, but even that is not going to be enough”, he added. “And that’s the sensation that we want all of ISIL’s leadership and followers to have”.
“Though tempting to try to make up the inadequacies of local forces with superior US personnel”, Murphy said, “The slow build-up of USA combat soldiers inside Syria and Iraq risks repeating the mistake of the Iraq War – believing that extremism can be defeated by USA troops absent local political and military capacity”.
Ground fighting “forces the enemy to pop its head up, and when the enemy moves and pops his head up, guess what?” It would likely be based in Irbil. Kerry repeated Obama’s argument from a day ago that no peace in Syria would be possible while its president, Bashar Assad, remained in power.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the individual was not authorized to publicly discuss military planning. It will primarily operate as a joint force with other countries, but could also conduct missions with only Americans.
“There is no need for foreign ground combat forces in Iraqi territory”, Abadi said in a statement released late on Tuesday in which he praised the performance of Iraqi special forces.
Warren emphasized that the new force will partner with Iraqi and Kurdish forces inside Iraq to conduct raids in consultation with the Iraqi government. Abadi said that kind of support and special operations must be done with the government’s approval and in coordination with Iraqi forces. By screening submissions, we provide a space where readers can share intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information.
Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the committee, said the group needs to be defeated, not just contained.
“If all we have is Western aggression, we will never win”, he said. “It puts everyone on notice in Syria: You don’t know at night who’s coming through the window”, Carter said.
Russian Federation launched air strikes in late September in support of Assad.
Advertisement
Kerry also said Russia’s role in Syria was welcome, as long as Moscow was focused only on IS.
