Dempsey: If campaign fails, ground troops possible

[IDemo]

Source: Seattle Times

The nation's top military leader told Congress on Tuesday he would recommend that the United States consider deploying ground forces to Iraq if President Barack Obama's expanded air campaign to destroy Islamic extremists fails.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate panel that the goal for American advisers is to help Iraqi forces with planning, logistics and coordinating military efforts by coalition partners to take out members of the Islamic State group.

"To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president," Dempsey told the Senate Armed Services Committees, using an alternative name for the group.

Pressed during questioning, Dempsey said that under certain circumstances he "would go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of ground forces."

Read more: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2024549195_apxcongressislamicstate.html

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No one could foresee this happening....................

[CJCRANE]

1. Just get Darth Cheney to tell the extremists the truth:

"I am your father!"

That should freak them out.

[philosslayer]

2. This will not happen

President Obama has assured us it wouldn't. And, on his watch, it won't.

[candelista]

3. Then why is the Joint Chiefs Chairman floating it?

You don't think he did this without permission from above, do you?

[philosslayer]

5. How do I know his motivation?

Wouldn't be the first time a senior military commander spoke out of turn. And if so, he needs to be reminded of who is the CIC.

[candelista]

7. Spoke "out of turn"?

The highest serving commanding officer of the US military? I don't think so. He is serving up some Kool Aid, and you are going to drink it when the President pours you some.

[philosslayer]

8. President Obama said no troops on the ground

This lackey contradicted him. Who are YOU going to believe????

[Aerows]

10. You seem familiar. n/t

[C Moon]

4. This reeks of Cheney. Perhaps he still has connections.

This is fucked.
They'll probably make SURE Obama's campaign fails, to give Cheney what he wants.

[Purveyor]

6. It is a 'done fucking deal' so just get over it!

[Aerows]

9. This is a surprising development.

It's as surprising as discovering that if I put my finger in a fire that my skin gets blistery.

Holy Cow. I'm so fucking shocked, I'm going to jump into the ocean so that I don't get wet from all of the rain.

[pnwmom]

11. What do you expect a general to say? That never under any circumstances would he recommend

sending in any ground troops?

But Obama has already shown he makes his own decisions. He went against the advice of some close advisors on bin Laden. His decision is the one that counts, not Dempseys.

[freshwest]

13. Dempsey's been attacked by the GOP for repeatedly rebuffing calls for troops. I won't jump on this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014876771

He's carrying out Obama's policy which is why he's going to jumped upon.

[Javaman]

12. drip, drip, drip...nt

[Brigid]

14. I knew it.

I have been using this smilie much too often lately.