100 more troops headed to Iraq
I remember early in this Iraq thing, we were told 100 troops were going to Iraq to work out how we’re not planning to put boots on the ground. Before that first week was out, that number had grown to 300 (that’s 600 boots on the ground the first week, not including spare boots that they took with them). Now CNN reports that a 100 more are deploying to Iraq (that’s 800 boots on the ground for those of you keeping track at home);
More than 100 additional U.S. military advisers are being sent to Iraq to look at relief options for displaced Yazidis, officials say.
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 12, 2014
“People are looking at ways to do something more than just drop water and supplies,” a senior U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal. “You can only do that for so long.”
Even Democrats are concerned about the way Americans aren’t being told anything about the size and scope of the operation according to the Wire;
Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va) voiced concern over the administration’s efforts in Iraq, citing the need for Congress’ involvement with any additional action.
“I support providing humanitarian relief to Iraqi civilians and measures to protect American personnel, but I am concerned about the timeline and scope of our renewed military efforts in Iraq,” he said on Tuesday. “No one doubts the barbarity of IS and threat it poses to our partners and I will always support the President if he takes action to protect American servicemembers and diplomats. But the mission and objectives of any military action must be made clear to Congress, the American people, and our men and women in uniform.”
Yeah, well, I don’t think anyone in the pentagon or the White House knows what they’re doing, that’s why we’re not being told anything. The blind leading the sightless. The Biden leading the Hagel.
Category: Terror War
Problem really is that we are at War and the CiC and his staff just do not know it. They thought that we could simply walk away and everything would be just fine and dandy… or at least it would not bite us in the ass again.
Obama, is also now saying that it was not his decision to withdraw from Iraq in the first place mind you….
Chucky Hagel says all is well:
‘Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel formally announced the deployment in remarks to Marines at Camp Pendleton, California.
“This is not a combat boots on the ground kind of operation,” Hagel said.’
See? These are “Not Combat Boots” on the ground, so everyone can relax.
/sarc
Awesome. Rip Van Hagel; the pied piper of morons. I love that this administration things we’re this stupid. And people continue to talk about how bright the president is. I’m still not seeing it.
Well, Mr. SECDEF – care to comment on this?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/13/officials-pentagon-considering-rescue-mission-for-iraqis-trapped-on-mountain/
Somehow I just don’t see that happening without “boots on the ground”. But maybe I’m wrong.
Chucky Chuck and the DoD funky bunch strike again. Put a US servicemember anywhere in Iraq (outside of the Kurdish region) and it automatically becomes combat operations. You and the others in the NCA need to tell it like it really is Chucky Chuck. Someone’s son dying from enemy fire during a “humanitarian mission” denigrates the sacrifice because it is a lie.
Meantime, for anyone (besides me) who is keeping track of the goings-on in Iraq, the ISers have stolen grain from the Iraqi state mills.
http://www.breakingnews.com/item/2014/08/13/islamic-state-militants-have-taken-wheat-from-stat
I don’t know how long that link will last because it’s a twitterpate message, but I’m sure there are more details in the offing.
The report I found last night on additional ‘advisers’ was 130 troops to join those already there. I think I posted that in the ‘airstrikes not enough’ thread. It’s the anniversary this month of the Tonkin Gulf Resoluation, as Hondo pointed out. I think it’s ironic that the echoes of Vietnam are sounding in my ears.
The CinC has mastered his own version of revisionist history. In discussing ISIL (referred to lately as “IS” in some circles), I’m waiting for him to ask “It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘IS’ is…”
I have come to detest the phrase “boots on the ground” as much as I used to detest “peace process”. We don’t seem to hear the latter used all that much these days.
Yeah, it galls me a little to see military jargon appropriated by journalists and politicians. I think they’re trying to burnish their credentials, as if “speaking military” somehow proves that they know what they’re doing or talking about (when their actions, of course, demonstrate the exact opposite of that.)
At this rate, by early spring 2015, we will have close to 100,000 “boots on the ground” and we can start whoopin’ ass again!!
Very sneaky mister president, very sneaky…..