Back in Iraq to Stay This Time

[anatta]

Just days after announcing another significant deployment of ground troops into Iraq, Pentagon officials are saying they fully expect to seek even more ground troops in future deployments, though they declined to offer any specifics on numbers or timetables.

This is in keeping with what the Pentagon has done throughout the ISIS War, getting a few hundred more troops here and there, and following each deployment up with an almost immediate request for another deployment. It is in this way that the US went from “no boots on the ground” to an official force of about 4,600, and an actual force of about 6,000, in just a couple years.

Pentagon officials insisted that near-term further deployments would be needed to rebuild the Qayara Air Base, which was recently captured by the Iraqi military. The last deployment was also supposed to be to repair the base, which was largely destroyed in US airstrikes over the past two years.

Gen. Joseph Votel, who confirmed that more troops would be sought, also insisted that even if ISIS was defeated, it would likely not mean any drawdown of US troops from Iraq, insisting that the US wants to retain “capabilities” in Iraq even after this war.
http://news.antiwar.com/2016/07/15/...more-troops-for-iraq-after-latest-deployment/

 

[anatta]

to maintain counter-terrorism opportunities . to check Iran from completely owning Iraq. To have a base in that area.
Probably more..

"You can check out any time you like ; but you can never leave" ( Hotel California -Eagles)

 

[Legion Troll]

O-BOMB-YA is taking up where Bush left off.

 

[anatta]

O-BOMB-YA is taking up where Bush left off

well so far the special forces seem to be helping --
but the real difference is the players themselves are taking an active interest in killing ISIS..

There is still too much reliance on Iranian Quds-Iranian back Shi'a militias ( who conduct there own war crimes)
and not enough buy in from the Sunni's -but progress is progress.


which begs the question if we need to keep a base or 2 open after ISIS is "degraded" back to a hot insurgency like AQI.

 

[Legion Troll]

well so far the special forces seem to be helping

They do?

 

[anatta]

US military special forces pictured aiding Kurdish fighters in Syria
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/26/us-military-photos-syria-soldiers-fighting-isis

 

[Legion Troll]

US military special forces pictured aiding Kurdish fighters in Syria
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/26/us-military-photos-syria-soldiers-fighting-isis

So they're conducting raids, and you think that's "helping"?

 

[Celticguy]

So if BO had just stuck with the plan we would have been done. But he didn't and we'll be there forever. This is what happens when libs play general.

 

[Legion Troll]

So if BO had just stuck with the plan we would have been done.

Yeah, there was no terrorism anywhere until January 20, 2009. Mission was totally accomplished.

 

[anatta]

So if BO had just stuck with the plan we would have been done. But he didn't and we'll be there forever. This is what happens when libs play general.

there is some of that but more his consistent underestimation of the "jayvee" team that is now wreaking havoc.

Obama (and Clinton) have been remarkable failures in every aspect of middle east policy/decisions.
I can't think of anything he's done worthwhile - even not using missiles on Assad had to come thru a back assed
way of "red lines".
Clinton has been worse with her obliteration of Libya

 

[Legion Troll]

Obama's mis-designation of ISIS isn't the problem. It's the constant and deadly meddling in the internal affairs of soverign nations. Why are we taking sides in other countries' civil wars?

 

[Celticguy]

there is some of that but more his consistent underestimation of the "jayvee" team that is now wreaking havoc.

Obama (and Clinton) have been remarkable failures in every aspect of middle east policy/decisions.
I can't think of anything he's done worthwhile - even not using missiles on Assad had to come thru a back assed
way of "red lines".
Clinton has been worse with her obliteration of Libya

Yup. Hard to believe they could get every single thing so wrong. Of course if you ignore the experts because you think you are smart, it's easier to understand.
Twas ego that sunk the ship of state.

 

[anatta]

Obama's mis..

here's what the "mis-designation" accomplished

ISIS rolls untouched into Ramadi

 

[Legion Troll]

Yup. Hard to believe they could get every single thing so wrong. Of course if you ignore the experts because you think you are smart, it's easier to understand. Twas ego that sunk the ship of state.

Yup. As long as a white man Bush was in charge everything was peachy-keen in Iraq.

 

[Legion Troll]

here's what the "mis-designation" accomplished

Think so?

You wanted O-BOMB-YA to order an airstrike on pickup trucks flying flags?

Spoiler

 

[anatta]

Think so?...

lol

 

[Darth Omar]

Yup. As long as a white man Bush was in charge everything was peachy-keen in Iraq.

Maybe not so peachy, as Bush [the hated] predicted.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xdEmsk6qkJk

He predicted what would happen if we didn't get a SOFA with the Iraqi leadership; he all but called ISIS by name; and he predicted we would be forded to go back.

I believe the word for that is Trifecta, lol.

 

[Legion Troll]

Maybe not so peachy, as Bush [the hated] predicted. He predicted what would happen if we didn't get a SOFA with the Iraqi leadership; he all but called ISIS by name; and he predicted we would be forded to go back. I believe the word for that is Trifecta, lol.

I guess the fighters in the Middle East didn't get a Bush Action Man doll to play with like you did, Lapdoggy.

 

[Cancel 2020.1]

So if BO had just stuck with the plan we would have been done. But he didn't and we'll be there forever. This is what happens when libs play general.

Unlike when cons play general, and we get into stupid wars to begin with, and then make stupid decisions like disbanding the Iraq army, that extend that war for years?

Unlike those times?

 

[Cancel 2020.1]

I knew the rightie comments that we're seeing back in '03.

Bush was fantastic! (insert Dem President here) messed it up!

So predictable. They'll never face reality. Never, ever, ever.