U.S. sending 560 more troops to Iraq as Mosul push intensifies

BAGHDAD — The United States will send 560 more troops to Iraq to transform a freshly retaken air base into a staging hub for the long-awaited battle to recapture Mosul from Islamic State militants, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday. The new American forces should arrive in the coming weeks. Most of the engineers, logistics personnel, security and communications forces will concentrate on building up Qayara air base, about 40 kilometers south of Mosul. They will assist Iraqi forces planning to encircle and eventually retake the biggest city anywhere that has fallen under ISIS' control. ArmyTimes

Ugh. We never really left though, did we....boots on the ground by any other name and all.

Iraqi Security Forces recently reclaimed an airfield near Mosul, so we're going to help build that up (logistically valuable in case there's and offensive on Mosul) as well as more Iraqi troops. Total U.S. troops in Iraq now 4647.

P entagon will send hundreds more troops to Iraq following seizure of key airfield

But....but....BUT !!!!!

They need to decide WTF... Either send in 100,000 troops and end this crap or quit playing around for political reasons. What a joke this all is.

a reply to: JinMI
Yeah. We shoulda never gone in there to begin with so going back now is just...well you said it.


a reply to: Orionx2
I know, right. I've always been a surgical strike kinda girl myself.

Screw it people.

It's been 15 years.

Bring em home from Iraq, and Afghanistan.

We got domestic terrorists to deal with now.

originally posted by: neo96
Screw it people.

It's been 15 years.

Bring em home from Iraq, and Afghanistan.

We got domestic terrorists to deal with now.

Every country has domestic terrorists to deal with. And always has.

But I don't disagree with the first sentiment.

a reply to: neo96

And to that, are we technically dealing with our own fallout?!

keep stirring the pot...
over and over and over.

a reply to: autopat51

PFFT.
GO TELL VALLERIE Jarrett,you don't like her ideas.

originally posted by: JinMI
a reply to: neo96

And to that, are we technically dealing with our own fallout?!

Depends on how you look at it.

For those that think middle east history began in 2000 ? no.

For those that KNOW when the US got in to bed with Saudi Arabia under FDR ?

Yes.

These guys will be supporting the capture of Mosul and end of ISIS as a fighting force in Iraq with artillery. This is it in Iraq, the last push, ISIS last stand. Makes sense we want to make sure the Coalition forces moving on Mosul have all the support they need. ISIS last strong hold in Syria is also being surrounded and advanced upon. It will be interesting to see what if anything is left of ISIS by the end of the year.

a reply to: MrSpad

Hope not. Would be nice to end it even sooner, wouldn't it?

a reply to: JinMI


But... but... but... what does "no boots on the ground in Syria" have to do with this circumstance in Iraq?

Were you not aware that Mosul is in Iraq, and not in Syria?

originally posted by: ~Lucidity
a reply to: MrSpad

Hope not. Would be nice to end it even sooner, wouldn't it?

Well, their is not military solution to small cells who do suicide bombings and such. So something will be left. Granted the US has killed most of their leadership so it is possible they will splinter and be sucked into other groups. As a fighting force that takes over towns though? Those days are at an end.

originally posted by: Orionx2
They need to decide WTF... Either send in 100,000 troops and end this crap or quit playing around for political reasons. What a joke this all is.

This is the end. That is why they are being sent. Most people do not seem to know ISIS near death. Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria are last real strong holds. For some reason this seems lost on most people.