More US troops to Iraq

The Obama Pentagon announced that they’re sending almost 200 more US troops to Iraq to bolster numbers there from 3,870 to 4,087, according to the Washington Post. They’re mostly artillery and a aviation assets to help the Iraqis take back Mosul;

Raising the Iraqi flag in Mosul would be a symbolic victory for the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, facing a mounting political crisis, and for the White House, which is seeking to deal a decisive blow to the Islamic State before President Obama leaves office.

The decisions are the latest indication of officials’ increasingly urgent desire to make the U.S.-led campaign of airstrikes and training efforts, which began in 2014, more effective.

You know what would have been really great? If they hadn’t lost Mosul in the first place, but then that would have detracted from the number of campaign slogans available for the 2012 election.

From AFP;

While most American forces in Iraq play advisory and support roles, Washington has also sent in special forces to carry out raids against IS, and US Marines have deployed to provide artillery support for Iraqi troops.

Obama repeatedly pledged that there would be no “boots on the ground” to combat IS, but US forces are engaged in combat with the jihadists and two American military personnel have already been killed.

“No boots on the ground” has become “closer to the action”;

Speaking to reporters Monday in Baghdad, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the decision to move U.S. advisers to the Iraqi brigade and battalion level will put them “closer to the action,” but he said they will have security forces with them and the U.S. will do what’s needed to reduce the risks.

A senior U.S. official said that there will be eight Apache helicopters authorized to help the Iraqi forces when Iraq leaders determine they need them.

Of course, a real leader would have put enough troops AND equipment in the fight in the first place. Who the hell sends attack helicopters to Iraq with no crews?

Thanks to Pinto Nag and Chief Tango for the links.

Category: Terror War