Posted on May 29, 2015
Do you think the U.S. should be doing more to help Iraq fight the Islamic State? What 'more' should we be doing?
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The Obama administration has responded to the recent gains by the Islamic State in Iraq with several remedial measures, including accelerating a shipment of antitank weapons to Iraqi forces and pledging to push harder for the delivery of arms to Sunni tribes. But some senior administrative officials have adopted a defensive crouch, blaming the Iraqis for failing to defend the city of Ramadi and insisting that there is no alternative to current U.S. strategy.
The response has angered senior Iraqi officials, who point out that Iraqi soldiers and tribal fighters defended Ramadi for 18 months. It may have accentuated what has been a renewed turn by the government of Haider al-Abadi toward Iran, which sponsors the Shiite militias that have been dispatched to retake Ramadi. Above all, the blame-shifting has substituted for an honest and searching reexamination by Mr. Obama of his plan for defeating the Islamic State.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-can-do-more-to-help-iraq-fight-the-islamic-state/2015/05/28/c6b21506-048f-11e5-8bda-c7b4e9a8f7ac_story.html
The response has angered senior Iraqi officials, who point out that Iraqi soldiers and tribal fighters defended Ramadi for 18 months. It may have accentuated what has been a renewed turn by the government of Haider al-Abadi toward Iran, which sponsors the Shiite militias that have been dispatched to retake Ramadi. Above all, the blame-shifting has substituted for an honest and searching reexamination by Mr. Obama of his plan for defeating the Islamic State.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-can-do-more-to-help-iraq-fight-the-islamic-state/2015/05/28/c6b21506-048f-11e5-8bda-c7b4e9a8f7ac_story.html
Iraq
ISIS
War on Terror
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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We really need to look at DOING less and influencing more. There are more than enough Arab states in the AO that are more than capable of getting in there and getting things done. This is not a "US" problem to tackle alone - or even spearhead. We just are because we let everyone else get by with doing nothing.
Just like with kids, you can't do it all for them, they won't learn - sometimes you have to let them fail.
Just like with kids, you can't do it all for them, they won't learn - sometimes you have to let them fail.
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Capt Seid Waddell
SFC James Sczymanski, not after 7 years of Obama, but I believe it can be rebuilt if we elect a leader in 2016.
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Capt Seid Waddell
Biden in 2010: Iraq Will Be 'One of the Greatest Achievements' of This Administration
Biden in 2010: Iraq Will Be 'One of the Greatest Achievements' of This Administration June 12, 2014 www.FreeBeacon.com
SGT William Howell, that is not true. We withdrew our support for their government before they decided not to sign a SOF with us. When we withdrew our advisors from their government they slipped back into factionalism and the Shia-led government turned to the only strong horse in the region - Iran.
Before Obama cut the legs out from under the Iraqi government the situation was well on the way to becoming a successful and prosperous state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOcPCrGRs6k
Before Obama cut the legs out from under the Iraqi government the situation was well on the way to becoming a successful and prosperous state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOcPCrGRs6k
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Capt Seid Waddell
SGT William Howell, from Obama's own mouth. Does that war look over to you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFqrBJ_1rro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFqrBJ_1rro
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
SFC James Sczymanski - I don't think there is any question as to whether we have significant influence in the world. We influence with our actions more than anything else. We wanted more local nations to be involved in the fight against ISIS in Syria and we influenced the area by how we engaged ISIS there. We kept our action minimal and limited to high value strikes against very specific targets. Some regional players thought there needed to be more and brought their own toys to the fight (Russia). That's good for us. We can't just be the hammer that runs around the world crushing things.
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We really have to get out of trying to be the Police for every other country but own. With all the recent attacks and shootings going on that should be our focus and not on another countries problems.
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SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
I keep asking why is rhe Arab nations failing  coming to the front to end the blood shed. They hate our western way of life yet they keep fleeing  to our borders. When I was in Saudi during the Gulf War. They have empty developments built in the desert like KKMC for the Nomads.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
What are we supposed to do when they say they don't want our help and we are violating their national sovereignty?
What are we supposed to do when they say they don't want our help and we are violating their national sovereignty?
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Who's national sovereignty? Syria? Their problems spilled into Iraq, our ally and unfortunately our responsibility. I assure you that Assad is not too much concerned that we're attacking a threat trying to take him out.
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CPT (Join to see)
Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin -
Sir, I was referring to Iraq's PM's statement in light of recent events.
On another note, I'm sure Assad is pleased with anything that helps his position.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/12/2/iraqi-pm-foreign-troops-not-needed-on-the-ground-to-fight-isil.html
Sir, I was referring to Iraq's PM's statement in light of recent events.
On another note, I'm sure Assad is pleased with anything that helps his position.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/12/2/iraqi-pm-foreign-troops-not-needed-on-the-ground-to-fight-isil.html
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
I really wasn't referring to a full up ground combat operation but rather, your suggestion that we're violating their national sovereignty. That simply isn't the case. While the Iraqi PM tells the press he doesn't need ground combat forces publically, he still wants the money, training, weapons, advice, and what he left out, air power. He also did not close the door on the SOF we're sending his way. From your own link:
"Abadi said his country needs training, weapons and advice from the international community and not "foreign ground combat forces fighting on Iraqi soil."
But he left the door open for such a possibility.
"The Iraqi government underlines that any military operation or deployment of any foreign special or non-special forces in any part of Iraq can't be done without its approval, full coordination and with full respect to Iraqi sovereignty," he said."
"Abadi said his country needs training, weapons and advice from the international community and not "foreign ground combat forces fighting on Iraqi soil."
But he left the door open for such a possibility.
"The Iraqi government underlines that any military operation or deployment of any foreign special or non-special forces in any part of Iraq can't be done without its approval, full coordination and with full respect to Iraqi sovereignty," he said."
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