Iraqi police in battle. Yahoo/AFP
President Obama is requesting 1500 more troops to assist and train the Iraqi military in its fight against ISIS. Yahoo/AFP. The new troops would double the amount of troops in country. The trainers and advisers will help Iraqi troops as well as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. The Obama administration claims that the new troops will be limited to a support role and will not enter combat. The troops will not be deployed unless congress authorizes their deployment and raises $5.6 billion to fund the war. In all, 12 brigades will be trained, 9 of them Iraqi army and 3 Kurdish Peshmerga. Other countries are deploying 700 trainers as well, including 120 from Denmark.
My Comment:
Yet another example of mission creep. I know that ISIS is a huge threat and that the Iraqi army desperately needs to grow a spine, but are these troops the answer? And is it worth the cost in money and perhaps lives as well? I would say yes, but I wish that the Europeans would do more. The 700 trainers are welcome, but is that really all they will send? ISIS is a much greater threat to Europe then it is to America and given that, Europe should do more to pull their own weight.
Still, nothing will happen if Congress doesn't pass the authorization and funding for these troops. I'm guessing that they will in the "lame duck" session. The American people won't fight it right now. ISIS has people rattled and national security is on everyone's mind. This is one of the few times in the next two years where I think Americans will stand with Obama. The images of American and British citizens being decapitated and fresh "lone wolf" terror attacks in Canada and the United States have people on edge. People want to feel safe and sending more troops may help them to do so.
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