275 Troops headed back to Iraq

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 10:46:42 -0400

Obama just announced that 275 service members will be deployed to Iraq to secure the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He said they will remain there until "becomes such that they are no longer needed".

My question is this, what do you think will happen if any of these 275 are hurt or killed providing this security?

Response by SGT Thomas Sullivan made Jun 17 at 2014 11:00 AM

SGT Thomas Sullivan — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:00:25 -0400

Obama is handling this entire incident poorly. The liberal wing has had too much influence on his thinking. As commander in chief, he has dissapointed me greatly.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Jun 17 at 2014 11:12 AM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:12:59 -0400

275 troops sounds like we are throwing a tic-tac to a whale.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jun 17 at 2014 11:20 AM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:20:26 -0400

To answer your question SGT Keen, probably nothing. I personally think they should evacuate the embassy. If the insurgents decide they want to storm the embassy, there is not a lot of help outside it's walls to hold them back.

The question is, do the insurgents have enough courage to engage in a bloody firefight. Obama is a weak president, and if anything happens to the service members or embassy staff, I am sure the story will change several times, and we still won't know the truth.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 17 at 2014 11:22 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:22:01 -0400

While its good that we are providing security for embassy employees (this time), what happened to "no more troops overseas" with this and the attempts at extending our time in Afghanistan?

I don't like sending more troops to Iraq as the last time the White House crew was in charge of an embassy it was attacked and then lied about / forgotten about. I would rather we just abandon our embassies in countries that will continue to kill due to someone's religious beliefs and chalk it up as a lost cause.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jun 17 at 2014 11:26 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:26:14 -0400

I'm afraid that this entire situation will get much worse before it gets any better.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 11:27 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:27:19 -0400

Failure to learn from history means we are doomed to repeat it. Where else has this president had dealings with an embassy/consulate and shown outwardly that he does not care what happens within it?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 11:29 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:29:56 -0400

This ISIS situation is getting out of hand. The last thing we need is more fighting in Iraq, but I don't know if 275 will be enough to defend the embassy.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 17 at 2014 11:34 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:34:59 -0400

We have wasted all these tax payer dollars on tanks and jets that we will never use. Why not park the tanks outside the embassy and dare anyone to try to attack?

Response by SGT Eric Lorenz made Jun 17 at 2014 11:35 AM

SGT Eric Lorenz — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:35:16 -0400

I dimly recall a quotation from either Beirut or Lebanon; "If they go to fight, they are too few. If they go to die, they are too many."

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 17 at 2014 11:42 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:42:03 -0400

At least the accomodations are nice....

Response by TSgt Chuck Boots made Jun 17 at 2014 12:25 PM

TSgt Chuck Boots — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:25:59 -0400

If any troops are injured we will be back in for the long haul. Iraq did not take their own security/safety paramount and now the US caretakers have to come back and fix this again.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jun 17 at 2014 12:47 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:47:04 -0400

This is why I believe we have a vested interest in keeping Iraq from falling under the control of terrorists. It is not just Iraqi terrorists, but also Syrian terrorists. Weapons and equipment left in the hands of the Iraqi government are being seized by terrorists.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/17/isis-moving-seized-us-tanks-humvees-to-syria/?intcmp=HPBucket

ISIS moving seized US tanks, Humvees to Syria

Syrian and Iraqi terrorist forces obtained significant numbers of tanks, trucks, and U.S.-origin Humvees in recent military operations in Iraq and those arms are being shipped to al Qaeda rebels in Syria, according to U.S. officials.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 17 at 2014 4:07 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:07:06 -0400

We are stuck with the problems over there!

Response by SSG Jeremy Siebenaller made Jun 17 at 2014 8:15 PM

SSG Jeremy Siebenaller — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:15:03 -0400

Same this as Benghazi! Not a damn thing! They're (Politicians) are completely willing to send our boys over to countries they wouldn't DARE go to them selves, with crappy equipment, and no support....But won't do a damn thing to help them out!

Response by SFC Micheal Ledet made Jun 17 at 2014 8:35 PM

SFC Micheal Ledet — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:35:08 -0400

How about we worry about home first. 275 soldiers is not going to be enough so watch and see we go back over there. We have lost too many lives already not one more soul need to be taken due to a country that been fighting each other for thousand of years. Enough is enough. The civilians are tired and so are we.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 8:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:58:30 -0400

This is a death trap

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 9:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:38:35 -0400

On June 27, 1864, nearly 150 years ago, Col. Daniel McCook, a Brigade Commander in the Union Army of the Cumberland had been tasked with attacking heavily entrenched Confederate Soldiers at what would be later known as The Bloody Angle at Kennesaw Mountain, Ga. It is recorded that McCook unsheathed his sword and orated the following lines from Horatius at the Bridge:

Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the gate:
“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods,

“Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand
May well be stopped by three:
Now who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me?”

McCook and his Illinois, Indiana and Ohio Soldiers surged forward with a loud Hurrah. They were immediately taken under heavy musket and artillery fire. As they closed the distance at a run uphill against impossible odds, their numbers melting away, only a few reached the Confederate ramparts. McCook managed to reach the works but was felled by a 58 caliber bullet at close range, mortally wounded.

Sun Tzu informs us "There are some roads not to follow; some troops not to strike; some cities not to assault; and some ground which should not be contested.”

It would seem, that even with 150 years worth of lessons learned, we are still doomed to repeat the same mistakes. And like Horatius and Col. McCook, we will continue to be tasked to face those fearful odds at the behest of consuls who have failed to learn the lessons of history.

Response by Sgt John H. made Jun 21 at 2014 11:16 AM

Sgt John H. — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 11:16:44 -0400

The middle east is an open sore. We either stay in or stay out. Withdrawal for political gain caused this situation. Once we withdraw from Afghanistan, the situation will compound. Sending 300 advisors and selected military strikes....This is an invitation for disaster. If we are going to intervene, do it for the correct reasons and do it right. Follow General Schwarzkopf's example. Otherwise, quit sending our brothers to die for politicians gain.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 29 at 2014 4:24 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 16:24:43 -0400

Next we'll send 2750, followed by 27500, ... until lo and behold we once again have an occupying force in Iraq. At that point the new president has to deal with the old president's mess as history once again repeats itself, "And the Army, goes rolling along ..."

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jul 1 at 2014 4:44 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:44:15 -0400

Well, we can add more to this number. So much for no more troops overseas...