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TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

8. No, this is precisely why we won't be doing a ground war.

Mon Sep 22, 2014, 12:15 PM

Sep 2014

This is a repeat of 2006 that got a lot of American troops killed for nothing, and led to us "surging" with overwhelming troop numbers and paying off Sunni tribesman--high cost for transient peace. Until the local Sunnis want to get rid of ISIS, we'll have to push them back where we can and wait until an agreement is made between Sunnis and Shia.

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As Sunni Tribes Sit on Sidelines, U.S. Airstrikes Don’t Halt ISIS (IOW Ground Troops Needed) [View all] morningfog Sep 2014 OP

it's ridiculously clear that this is a doomed effort cali Sep 2014 #1

It's not about ISIL, it's about taking out Assad, IMHO. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #2

These guys pulled themselves up by their bootstraps CJCRANE Sep 2014 #3

I'm not sure what you're saying. I'm assuming that cali Sep 2014 #4

I don't know what they are. CJCRANE Sep 2014 #5

well, consider that they are taking territory (not whole countries) cali Sep 2014 #6

Well, in that case, I'm thinking... CJCRANE Sep 2014 #11

Not magic. Iraqi army turned ISIL. cheapdate Sep 2014 #10

This is why the actions of Iraq's new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi are key to any success against Uncle Joe Sep 2014 #31

What happens in Iraq is none of our concern. cheapdate Sep 2014 #7

No, this is precisely why we won't be doing a ground war. TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #8

but it's not pushing them back- with perhaps the exception of Baghdad cali Sep 2014 #9

Not just Baghdad. cheapdate Sep 2014 #13

uh, no. cali Sep 2014 #25

I was careless and mistaken. cheapdate Sep 2014 #27

Bombing has been effective where we have effective ground fighters to hold territory. TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #15

Tell that to Gen. Dempsey, whom Obama is relying on for military advise. morningfog Sep 2014 #12

mission creep is practically a law of "limited action". cali Sep 2014 #14

Special forces, though, not brigades of regular infantry. There is a big difference. TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #16

who knows? Mission creep happens almost inevitably cali Sep 2014 #18

I don't see it. I think we'll do what we can with airstrikes, advisors, spotters, intelligence-- TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #20

history. if you look at history, you'll see it. cali Sep 2014 #21

Well, we'll have to see. I think it will be a long slog. TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #22

Dempsey didn't it limit it that way: morningfog Sep 2014 #23

The Pleasant Fiction of "No Boots on the Ground" WilliamPitt Sep 2014 #17

one of several fictions maintained by supporters cali Sep 2014 #19

Where are the Shiite militia when you need them flamingdem Sep 2014 #24

That is a really good point, few years ago they were such a threat Cheney had a heart transplant. gordianot Sep 2014 #26

America seems unable to pass up an opportunity to step in a pile of shit it created. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2014 #28

What are US ground troops going to do now that is any different from what they did during the years KurtNYC Sep 2014 #29

Fuck that. Warren Stupidity Sep 2014 #30