Do you think the U.S. should be doing more to help Iraq fight the Islamic State? What 'more' should we be doing?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:11:01 -0400

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 U.S. must do more to help Iraq fight the Islamic State

The Obama administration must quickly step up its weapons support to embattled Iraqis.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 29 at 2015 2:17 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:17:09 -0400

We should be hitting ISIS reinforcement columns more heavily, and arming effective troops like the Kurds at the very least.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made May 29 at 2015 2:22 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:22:34 -0400

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.

Response by COL Ted Mc made May 29 at 2015 2:30 AM

COL Ted Mc — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:30:09 -0400

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/142153/

Just follow the link for an interesting take on Iraq.

05/28/2015 Cartoon by MStreeter

Political cartoons by MStreeter, member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.. Cartoon originally published 2015/05/28 Cartoon caption = "No End In Sight" (Mark Streeter/Savannah Morning News)

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made May 29 at 2015 6:31 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Fri, 29 May 2015 06:31:56 -0400

While I agree with MAJ Bryan Zeski, we helped the Iraqi Army get back on its feet and trained them we also gave them the impression we would be there to support them for the long term. And the Iraqi Army or parts of it laid down thinking the US would always be there. So when The U.S. pulled up stakes and left it most likely came as a shock and then they find themselves fighting ISIS and they were not mentally prepared to do that. I have heard all the lame arguments about the war and why we went. We never got a drop of oil from Iraq, we did find WMDs. But we did destabilizes the area when we took out Hussein so we were obligated to stay and keep that area safe in my mind. But more importantly what was it for no oil, yes on WMDs and we killed off a murder. We lost brothers and sisters and then pulled out, Obama, Bush doesn't matter one bit we pulled out after all that. What was the Blood, Sweat and Tears for if we became a political tool it was a waste. I wasted my time there. But ISIS they must be stopped at all costs they murdering people daily and some Arab countries are fighting back but all the countries need to talk and coordinate which does not seem to be happening at this time a leader needs to step up but we don't have one to do that.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 27 at 2015 5:59 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:59:01 -0400

Pentagon is weighing more involvement in Iraq but Obama is. Not convinced we need to. He didn't sign off on the raid to rescue ISIS captives last week. And he has promised not to have "Boots On The Ground" in Iraq again.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 8:25 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 08:25:44 -0500

Keep in mind they are a divided nation and will work to suppress each other's ethnic tribe at all costs.

"While 3,000 U.S. trainers and other support troops are now in Iraq, they are not allowed to accompany Iraqi forces to the front lines or identify targets for airstrikes — crucial tasks that proved decisive when the United States helped local forces overthrow the Taliban government in Afghanistan."
When do we let them execute what they have been trained?

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Dec 2 at 2015 1:40 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:40:53 -0500

If Obama would increase the level of bombing from our carrier it would decimate ISIS quickly. 13 "surgical strikes" a day are nothing compared to what a carrier can project forward.
Thanks,
Rick

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 2:05 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:05:26 -0500

What are we supposed to do when they say they don't want our help and we are violating their national sovereignty?

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 3 at 2015 2:16 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:16:03 -0500

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.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 7 at 2015 12:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:31:49 -0500

We can help ourselves by knowing what motivates different groups in Iraq.