Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
US PRESIDENT BARACK Obama has approved the deployment of 450 more US military trainers to Iraq, a cautious bid to reverse gains by the Islamic State group.
The White House said the forces will join an already 3,100-strong mission to “train, advise and assist” the Iraqi army as well as Sunni tribal fighters.
The new contingent will focus on efforts to wrest back control of provincial capital Ramadi.
Islamic State seized the predominately Sunni city near Baghdad in May, punching a giant hole in Obama’s strategy to “defeat and degrade” the jihadist group.
Obama has ruled out putting combat troops on the ground, fearing it may re-entangle US forces in a war he fought hard to end.
Instead his administration has offered air support, arms and training to an amalgam of disparate Iraqi forces.
In addition to extra trainers, the White House announced there will also be “expedited delivery of essential equipment and material” for those tribal and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters — in coordination with the central government in Baghdad.
While senior Obama military and civilian aides indicate he “hasn’t ruled out any additional steps,” such as providing field advisers or personnel to call in airstrikes, they say the current strategy will remain in place.
“The president has made it clear that he will look at a range of different options,” said Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes.
Our overriding focus here is making sure that there is Iraqi capacity on the ground.
- Fight for Anbar -
The new US training contingent will be based at Taqaddum Air Base, perched between jihadist-held Ramadi and Fallujah.
That puts US non-combat troops within striking distance of Islamic State fighters, but officials say it also makes recruitment of Sunni tribal fighters easier.
“There is always a risk whenever we’re in Iraq that we could be hit with indirect fire, as we have in the past, that we could be attacked,” said senior Pentagon official Elissa Slotkin.
We felt like we could sufficiently mitigate the risk to make it worthwhile to go out there to perform this important mission.
Iraq’s Sunni Muslim community — likely to be key to victory in Anbar — has yet to join the fight against Islamic State in large numbers.
After years of sectarian tensions, there remains a simmering distrust of the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.
There may also be lingering suspicion of the United States, which in previous campaigns recruited Sunni fighters before leaving them to the mercy of Shiite sectarian rulers.
The Pentagon said a large portion of the new US troops will focus on protecting trainers and other officials, while a small group will help Iraqi forces plan helping the Iraqis plan an eventual counter-attack on Ramadi.
The deployment of 450 US troops into the middle of a contested area may also have an impact on Islamic State’s actions, said Slotkin.
Obama’s Republican political adversaries seized on his announcement.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but as the president admitted the other day, he has no strategy to win. And this is another tactical move,” said House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner.
“I support the tactical move the president is taking, but where’s the overarching strategy?”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
We know Dylan does not want to publicly receive this so let’s hear about the other winners and what they did to receive such high distinction. That’s the article I want to read.
@Deborah Behan: They told people to vote for Hillary this year???
Well, it would have been a bit inconsistent of him if he had shown up … Sticking to his guns I guess.
He was probably afraid crooked Hillary was going to be there.
interesting Dylan showed up for his presidential medal of freedom and yet appears to be turning up his nose at the Nobel Prize, a tad ungreatful Boll@* impression I’m getting of Dylan.
@Joseph Dempsey: He is not “turning up his nose” at a prize that he never sought and which must have come as a huge surprise to him. He did thank the Swedes for it and said he would attend the ceremony in Stockholm “if at all possible”. Now it seems it isn’t possible, but he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation of why that is so.
And what makes you think he would give a rat’s arse what impression a judgemental little anonymous nobody like you gets?
So what if they were all migrants. As if hordes of Mexican, Irish, and whatever other illegals are equivalent to four British scientists who legally emigrated to the US.
Regarding Bob Dylan, it’s funny that some old twanger who hasn’t had a half decent tune for decades still gets so much attention.
@Naberius:
He did not ask for the attention.
Give it to someone else.someone harder working with more talent.shouldn’t be that hard to find someone.
Red Hurley? Do you have anyone in mind? What’s the name of that Irish singer popular in the 80′s? His name escapes me. He’d be a good Nobel Laureate. What’s his name, Red Hurley? It’s at the tip of my tongue.
‘Migrants’
Escaping the hell holes of Oxford and Cambridge.
One of the greatest song writer of our time.
“All l I can do is be me, whoever that is”
This week I am mostly arrogant and petty.
Too cool for school
Ungrateful arrogant person who should be stripped of the award…Full of his own self importance
@Paul Lane: “Self-important” and “arrogant” for NOT accepting an award?!!?
You need to go back and consult your dictionary, friend!!
@Paul Lane:
Q: What do the following Nobel winners have in common?
Novelist Doris Lessing in 2007, playwright Harold Pinter in 2005 and writer Elfriede Jelinek in 2004?
A: They didn’t accept the award in person
@Fox in the Box: Some could not because of health issues.
@Paul A Whelan: How do you know what shape the 75-year-old Dylan is in? Maybe a trip all the way to Stockholm would be hard on him, but he doesn’t want to moan in public about his health.
No one can nominate themself for the Nobel Prize and Dylan probably had no inkling that he was getting one until the name of the winner was announced in Sweden.
Dylan probably recognises the insanity of the Nobel institute which awarded Obama the Peace Prize in 2008 upon his inauguration as President. Apparently Henry Kissinger was also a ‘peace’ recipient. Nothing could be more hypocritical, insane ,mad crazy as awarding these two war mongers this award. Dylan wrote songs about peace and the ending of wars. So, congratulations Bob. You are consistent as well as being a great singer, song writer, poet and humanitarian.
Besides I’m pretty sure Dylan didn’t put his name forward for the prize in the first place. Why on earth should anyone be expected to turn up for a ceremony they didn’t sign up for.
Just send me the prize money,(€0.93 million)
@Patrick James Walsh: I’m sure Bob needs it as badly as I need a €5 gift from the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Dylan must be very busy these days.
Is he unwell?
Is he sick of all the B…S…?
have your say