Posted on Jun 14, 2015
General Dempsey doubts the wisdom of a larger U.S. role in Iraq. Do you agree/disagree with him? Why?
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In the homestretch of a 41-year U.S. Army career shaped by war and the scars of war, Gen. Martin Dempsey sounds unconvinced that Iraq has found its path to lasting victory over the Islamic State group.
But neither does the top military adviser to President Obama say the threats to Iraq today justify sending American ground troops back into combat.
He counsels patience, for now.
Give the Iraqis more time to heal their internal divisions and fight their own battles. Resist the temptation to grab control of the contest against the Islamic State group. An enduring victory will take more than military might; it will require a unified Iraq supported by neighbors.
"If we were to take control of this campaign, I mean literally seize control of the campaign, then there's no doubt in my mind we would probably defeat ISIL on, let's say, a faster timeline, but at some considerable cost to our young men and women in uniform," he told U.S. troops Thursday in an aircraft hangar in Naples, Italy, on one of his last overseas trips before finishing his four-year tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/06/13/shaped-by-war-dempsey-doubts-wisdom-of-deep-us-role-in-iraq/71168848/
But neither does the top military adviser to President Obama say the threats to Iraq today justify sending American ground troops back into combat.
He counsels patience, for now.
Give the Iraqis more time to heal their internal divisions and fight their own battles. Resist the temptation to grab control of the contest against the Islamic State group. An enduring victory will take more than military might; it will require a unified Iraq supported by neighbors.
"If we were to take control of this campaign, I mean literally seize control of the campaign, then there's no doubt in my mind we would probably defeat ISIL on, let's say, a faster timeline, but at some considerable cost to our young men and women in uniform," he told U.S. troops Thursday in an aircraft hangar in Naples, Italy, on one of his last overseas trips before finishing his four-year tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/06/13/shaped-by-war-dempsey-doubts-wisdom-of-deep-us-role-in-iraq/71168848/
Iraq
ISIS
International Affairs
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Personally, and don't ask me to put a finger on why I feel this way, but Chairman JCS General Dempsey has never completely inspired me with any appreciable level of confidence in his "independence" from Obama. He has appeared too "puppet-like" on any number of critical military scenarios. Woefully, though, he is not the only one. But, to the question at hand, the word "quagmire' is now being used in relation to Iraq, and I could not agree more. In spite of my unashamed and unlimited respect for Bush 41 and Bush 43, I think a series of incomprehensible Pandora's Boxes have been inadvertently opened in that region of the world. My worst nightmare is that the world is looking at literally decades of endless sectarian war and uncontrollable terror acts around the globe. I have a great idea how to make a huge dent in the problems, but I don't know what good a multi-national parking lot would do for anyone clear over there!!!
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Capt Seid Waddell
SCPO (Join to see), agreed. However, the situation in Iraq was getting better until this administration pulled out and threw away everything that we had gained. It takes time to turn a situation like that around, train new leaders, and let the old hatreds die out over time. It cannot be accomplished in one or two American election cycles; it must be a long term commitment.
It is not clear that the American people are capable of that long range thinking any longer.
It is not clear that the American people are capable of that long range thinking any longer.
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I'm not a General, and do not pretend to know what is actually being discussed via a politically weak agenda. Seems to me that the Arabs via Iraq balanced the Persians... When we left, its obvious the vacuum created provided opportunities for Iran, Isis, and terrorists to occupy a shattered country. I have noticed these posting avoid the well-being and support of our only ally in the Middle East: Israel.
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Capt Seid Waddell
LTC Bink Romanick, considering this administrations actions towards Israel, can you blame them? Their very existence is on the line and Obama is tilting toward those bent on Israel's destruction.
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There are no easy answers here, there rarely are in war. But we must aggressively lead on Iraq. Regional powers can't solve the Islamic State problem without us. The Sunni-Sheite conflict is an enormous problem, but not an insurmountable one. If we are to become more involved in Iraq we need to be prepared to be involved there for a long time. We can not allow the Millidle East to devolve into chaos and anarchy
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Capt Seid Waddell - We didn't dismantle the governments of Germany and Japan. And we sent enough troops to actually occupy the territory.
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Capt Seid Waddell
Lt Col (Join to see), actually, we did dismantle the governments of both Germany and Japan, and we governed them directly until they were able to govern themselves. We also ensured their security during that time, and we still protect them both under our nuclear umbrella.
That was before our politics got so toxic that one side would rather see the U.S. lose a war than to have the other side win any sort of victory.
That was before our politics got so toxic that one side would rather see the U.S. lose a war than to have the other side win any sort of victory.
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