US to send military advisers to Iraq

[webfact]

Iraq crisis: US to send 'military advisers'

WASHINGTON: -- President Barack Obama says the US will send 300 military advisers to Iraq to help fight Islamist-led insurgents.

Mr Obama said the US was prepared for "targeted and precise military action, if and when... the situation on the ground requires it", but added that US troops would not fight in Iraq.

He went on to insist there was "no military solution" and urged the Shia-led Iraqi government to be "inclusive".

Iraq has asked the US for air strikes against the Sunni militants.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27932443


-- BBC 2014-06-20

[canopus1969]

Too little too late

[shirtless]

Let them sort it out , America can never solve the problems they create .

[Ulysses G.]

A worthless empty gesture. What is the point?

[oneday]

Are we ever going to get out of the business of being the world's police force. We have seen this before. Once we go in, it is next to impossible to prevent it from escalating and then it is next to impossible to get out.

[kamahele]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

[NeverSure]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Thank you George W Bush Tony Blair. Still cleaning up your mess

[h90]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Well the weapons were send by the USA and their allies to the "Freedom" fighter in Syria.....And Russia, Syria and the Iran warned them that the weapons will be used somewhere different.

Supporting the Taliban (under different name) with weapons to fight the Soviets.....Weapons are later used against the USA.

Supporting Libyan rebels with weapons...the weapons are later used against US allies.

Supporting Syrian rebels the weapons are later used against Iraq.

That must has some purpose because no one can be that stupid.

[NeverSure]

This is a religious war that won't end in my lifetime.

Let the EU, China and India sort it out. They are the ones that need the oil.

The US has been keeping the sea lanes open... Why?

Send Tony Blair in to fix it.

[NeverSure]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Well the weapons were send by the USA and their allies to the "Freedom" fighter in Syria.....And Russia, Syria and the Iran warned them that the weapons will be used somewhere different.

Supporting the Taliban (under different name) with weapons to fight the Soviets.....Weapons are later used against the USA.

Supporting Libyan rebels with weapons...the weapons are later used against US allies.

Supporting Syrian rebels the weapons are later used against Iraq.

That must has some purpose because no one can be that stupid.

That's your response to a comment about Bush? You have to go back a lot farther than Bush to bring all of that in.

And lightly brushing on the word "allies" is convenient. Why don't you call them out by name, too?

[Scott]

Off-topic posts deleted.

Please stay on topic and keep your remarks civil.

[mcdiddly]

This problem was created long before Bush. Reagan should have never let Saudi Arabia sell US weapon to Saddam .. Then we would not be in this position!

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Thank you George W Bush Tony Blair. Still cleaning up your mess

[Dap]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Well the weapons were send by the USA and their allies to the "Freedom" fighter in Syria.....And Russia, Syria and the Iran warned them that the weapons will be used somewhere different.

Supporting the Taliban (under different name) with weapons to fight the Soviets.....Weapons are later used against the USA.

Supporting Libyan rebels with weapons...the weapons are later used against US allies.

Supporting Syrian rebels the weapons are later used against Iraq.

That must has some purpose because no one can be that stupid.

Unfortunately, the purpose is always money

[Dap]

Ahhhh, I am thoroughly disheartened (once again) to hear those words;

"US to send military advisers."

Unfortunately, It's never the last words.

[Chicog]

And the funny thing is they'll undoubtedly be advising the Iranians.

[Robby nz]

US military "Advice" in the last few decades does not seem to have led to a lot of peace around the world.

[rijb]

US military "Advice" in the last few decades does not seem to have led to a lot of peace around the world.

A military is in the fighting business (except in Thailand). Diplomats are in the peace business.

Not sure what business you're in. Hope it doesn't take a lot of smarts.

[folium]

And the funny thing is they'll undoubtedly be advising the Iranians.

The Iranians probably don't need too much "assistance" as they have become pretty good at aiding and abetting insurgencies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq in the last decades or three....

For those who have experience of the ME, an old adage that is probably familiar..."never underestimate the Persians"....

[Pakboong]

The west sending advisors to teach or train a foreign force how to fight a tribal war seems pretty silly to me. Where do we think these trainers are going to get their training in such matters? Are there some special tactics or procedures that would actually be helpful in these situations? Obviously, those being trained never seem to do what they have been trained to do.

[Ulysses G.]

Didn't we already train them? Someone should have mentioned not to run away.

[Credo]

The key to not having the troops deserting is to have them well trained, well equipped and with plenty of backup.

In Iraq, the concept of the country is overshadowed by tribal affiliation and religion. A lot of Iraqi's don't really identify with the country as strongly as nationals of many other countries do.

I've met a number of people from Iraq and most of them identified with their ethnic background rather than the country. They would say things like, "I am an Arab" or "I am a Kurd". It wasn't until asked what country they were from that Iraq was mentioned. Even then, the Kurds will often say Northern Iraq.

[Credo]

They could also do it the way Saddam did. He had soldiers that went behind the frontline troops and shot them if they turned back.

[boomerangutang]

'sending military advisors' ...that, plus the Gulf of Tonkin incident was how the US got entwined in the Vietnam war.

Let them sort it out , America can never solve the problems they create .

Perhaps Americans exacerbated problems there, but they didn't create them. Those problems have going on since before the Assyrian empire.

[simple1]

This is a religious war that won't end in my lifetime.

Let the EU, China and India sort it out. They are the ones that need the oil.

The US has been keeping the sea lanes open... Why?

Send Tony Blair in to fix it.

You posed the same question in a different topic & here's the the same answer you may like to review. I'll be interested to read your or others thoughts.

“Here's What the Battle Over Iraqi Oil Means for America”.

In part to answer your question on why US should/would contribute to trade route security:

“Middle Eastern oil still plays an important role in US policy, says Cordesman. "It is precisely because US security is global. It is not a matter of direct US dependence [on foreign oil]," he said. "Because what really counts is global prices, and what counts is the steady and predictable flow of oil to a global economy​"

http://www.motherjon...ji-oil-fracking

[coma]

Won't be long now until they start calling in air strikes. Likely targets being ISIS leadership. Public enemy number one Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi

[FritsSikkink]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

Well the weapons were send by the USA and their allies to the "Freedom" fighter in Syria.....And Russia, Syria and the Iran warned them that the weapons will be used somewhere different.

Supporting the Taliban (under different name) with weapons to fight the Soviets.....Weapons are later used against the USA.

Supporting Libyan rebels with weapons...the weapons are later used against US allies.

Supporting Syrian rebels the weapons are later used against Iraq.

That must has some purpose because no one can be that stupid.

Good for the weapons industry. No war no profit.

[Yahooka]

"Military advisers"..............Another word for SF`s who`s gonna collect info behind the lines.

[coma]

Thank you George W Bush. Still cleaning up your mess

[folium]

Won't be long now until they start calling in air strikes. Likely targets being ISIS leadership. Public enemy number one Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi

Easier said than done..."decapitation" efforts from the air have a pretty low success rate. The problem with air strikes is that there are few ISIL targets that still still for long. Hence the need for FACs and the ability of drones to loiter.

Also despite the armchair general games, the only solution (as ever) is a political one. The military with or without foreign intervention need only hold the ring and put a lid on the threat long enough for a political solution to be reached...Federal Republic of Iraq anyone?

[Scott]

Let's please stay on-topic.