Posted on Jun 12, 2015
MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
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Al asad
GEN Dempsey has unveiled a proposed new strategy for combating ISIS in Iraq. The proposal calls for the establishment of a series of small FOBs, manned by U.S. Forces that would better enable them to coordinate with and train Iraqi Forces.

Doesn't this sound remarkably similar to what was strongly recommended by the Joint Chiefs prior to the total withdrawal of U.S. Forces in 2011?

Are the conditions on the ground conducive to the implementation of this strategy now?

How many troops will need to be deployed to make this strategy successful?

Is this a matter of too little, too late?

What say you, RP?
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Responses: 18
MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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That's all fine and dandy, but the bigger question will always be...will the Iraqis be willing and able to to effectively fight even after the training?
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SGT Bryon Sergent
SGT Bryon Sergent
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and the answer would be NO!
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
MSG (Join to see)
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As it has always been in the past. Because throwing a bunch of money and time for training them has shown to sooooooooo effective in the past
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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Edited >1 y ago
"Lily Pad" and "ISIS" in the same sentence, that's something I never thought I'd live to see. Without resolve on behalf of the Iraqi forces and government, we can build another Maginot Line or the Great Wall of China and it wouldn't make a difference.
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SPC(P) Jay Heenan
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Iraqis don't want to fight for themselves, they want us to fight for them...it won't matter how many FOBs you have.
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What Are Your Thoughts On The Pentagon's Proposed "Lilly Pad" Strategy To Combat ISIS In Iraq?
LTC Kevin B.
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The strategies and tactics are immaterial as long as the Iraqi people aren't willing to fight for their country. It appears to me that they have no allegiance to Iraq, but they do have allegiance to their own groups (Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds). As long as that's the case, any attempts by us to bring them together under one governing umbrella will be futile (regardless of what party is in the WH).
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SSG Trevor S.
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The Iraqis give up more than the French.
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
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Give up implies that they were in at some point?
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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Edited >1 y ago
I see no significant difference in results. The Iraqi soldiers have no will to fight, and ISIS has 30,000 heathens.
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MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP;  MA, Ph.D.
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This is total warfare against an evil and vile people -- any enemy that would burn a fellow Muslim alive (Jordanian pilot), and have blatant disregard for any life should be dealt with the same way: Hitler, Goring, Mussolini, and Tojo were dealt with. Either we commit, and hve total victory, or we keep trying the idea of the week...
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
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At this rate this war might last ten more years as we are thinking the Iraqi army will turn into a tiger, but a tiger who keeps running away, and the cycle of training starts all over again.
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SSG James Arlington
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Lily pad? Send in the frogs. Or better yet, the clowns. We CANNOT fight their battles. Lesson from Vietnam?
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
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We need to contract for aquatic living containerized housing units.
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SP5 David Cox
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A little before my time, but didn't we try he same thing in Vietnam? How'd that work out?
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LTC Bink Romanick
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The concept leaves me a little uncertain, I am reminded of a dozen Fort Apaches with hostiles surrounding the area.

What makes the powers that be the sense that the Iraqis will stand and fight? Have they thought that the troops they are training might turn on them?

Soldiers don't fight for a country alone, they fight for their buddies. Iraq is no longer a country in my opinion, a country has to maintain its borders to be sovereign, it has lost large chunks of its territory.

In sum I am skeptical of this concept working.
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