What other US President has authorized 'secret ops' to continue or prolong a war?

2015-10-29T02:19:22-04:00

When Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Tuesday that the U.S. would begin "direct action" against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, it sounded like a new mission for U.S. forces in a country where the president has repeatedly insisted Americans would not be engaged in combat operations. But America's special operations forces have been engaging in these kinds of missions for several months, particularly in the Kurdish-controlled provinces in northern Iraq. And the special operations forces have already built up an extensive infrastructure to support these activities. This casts doubt on the official Pentagon statements that last week’s raid was “a unique circumstance.” Since President Barack Obama authorized the first special operations teams to deploy to Iraq in the summer of 2014, the White House has provided few details on the mission and composition of the forces. The Pentagon today refers to the mission for the 3,500 U.S. service members as primarily "advise and assist," with an emphasis on training local forces. But the small and highly classified military footprint in northern Iraq shows the U.S. is more involved in the fight against the Islamic State.
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-10-28/new-u-s-combat-mission-in-iraq-is-not-new

New U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq Is Not New

Special operations forces have been fighting Islamic State on the ground for months.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 29 at 2015 2:34 AM

2015-10-29T02:34:52-04:00

I really need an "all of them" option.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Oct 29 at 2015 2:39 AM

2015-10-29T02:39:40-04:00

While the use of "advisors" is nothing new ... I have a problem with the way the term is being used (actually, overused) by the current Administration.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 29 at 2015 3:09 AM

2015-10-29T03:09:15-04:00

Johnson - Laos and Cambodia.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 29 at 2015 10:42 AM

2015-10-29T10:42:51-04:00

From USHistory site.

"President Truman decided to support France in its efforts to reclaim Indochina by providing money and military advisers. The United States financial commitment amounted to nearly $1 billion per year."

Using that as a starting point through the abandonment of Viet Nam, nearly all Presidents had their fingerprints on the activities. Good intentions are not always favorably rewarded. Again, I am NOT against the use of our troops to fight ISIS, but am disgusted with the attempt of the administration to pee on our leg and say its rain. We do nave boots on the ground and have for some time.