One Response to “Syria becomes Vietnam of the 21st Century. as russia announced building of a second military base, US announced sending of more troops”

1. Steve Wittlake
   December 1st, 2015 @ 12:09 pm

   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/12/01/pentagon-isil-ash-carter-special-operations-troops-syria/76604048/

   Carter: More special forces going to Iraq

   WASHINGTON — The Pentagon plans to send additional U.S. special operations forces to Iraq to conduct raids on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Congress on Tuesday.

   The commandos will coordinate with the Iraqi government and fight with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga troops, Carter said. The special operations force will be an addition to U.S. forces already in Iraq, said a senior Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The exact number of troops has not been determined.

   “These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIL leaders,” Carter said. “That creates a virtuous cycle of better intelligence, which generates more targets, more raids, and more momentum. The raids in Iraq will be done at the invitation of the Iraqi government and focused on defending its borders and building the (Iraqi security force’s) own capacity. This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into
   Syria.”

   Carter told Congress Tuesday the Pentagon is prepared to send more special operations forces to support the fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria.

   USA TODAY reported Monday the Pentagon was planning to send more commandos if the initial force of 50 found allies willing to fight and take ground from the Islamic State, also known as ISIL and Daesh. The addition of more troops to the fight represents a significant deepening of the U.S. involvement in the fight against the Islamic State. The Obama administration has been reluctant to commit ground forces to the fight in Iraq and Syria.

   The initial force special operators will work with local forces to gather intelligence on the ground and help enhance the use of air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition, Carter told the House Armed Services Committee. Where the special operations unit finds more opportunities to partner with local forces, more commandos will be added, Carter said.

   “We are prepared to expand it,” Carter said.

   Carter also told Congress that the U.S.-led coalition has expanded airstrikes in November to their highest level since the campaign began in August 2014. Several senior leaders from ISIL have also been killed and its source of revenue — illegally obtained oil — has been struck., he said.

   The ISIL attacks in France, which killed 130 people on Nov. 13, has added a sense of urgency to the fight, Carter said.

   Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon will seek to escalate the fight against ISIL.

   “In the days ahead, we’ll be aggressive in looking for ways to reinforce success,” Dunford said. “And we’ll seize every opportunity to increase the tempo and effectiveness of our operations.”

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