Will the US officially have boots on the ground in Iraq battling ISIS?

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 17:58:14 -0400

I think before all is said and done, we will officially be in combat against ISIS in Iraq.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 6:10 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:10:43 -0400

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member I believe it is inevitable. All the rhetoric and the elections coming up. I think any action or political controversial decision cannot be made 90 days before or after an election.

Response by SMSgt Alan Saunders made Oct 13 at 2014 1:53 PM

SMSgt Alan Saunders — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 13:53:00 -0400

Sadly, I have to agree - and it will be sooner rather than later IMHO. If we had a proper exit strategy after OIF (instead of just a date on the calendar), things may have been better over there. But that no longer matters because what was done is done.

Ultimately, the current CINC has no one to blame but himself and his administration for the challenges over there. I suspect we'll be sending the troops in by the end of this year.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Oct 13 at 2014 8:41 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 20:41:21 -0400

Before or after the ISIS have fully occupied Iraq?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 13 at 2014 9:00 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:00:48 -0400

"Officially", not until the next occupant of the oval office gets comfortable and can blame it on Obummer. "Unofficially", they are probably there embedded with Syrian and Iraqi defense forces as we speak.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2014 9:18 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:18:22 -0400

Throughout history air power alone has not defeated the enemy. And the administration is now admitting the air skrikes are not having any effect. So it was just a matter of time before it would come down to troops. But they can spin it any way they wish we have combat troops on the ground now, period.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 13 at 2014 9:23 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:23:06 -0400

We're there already, just waiting for the word

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2014 10:36 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 22:36:14 -0400

BO will go kicking and screaming before he allows combat troops back into Iraq and if he relents, he will blame the pentagon. But nothing will stop him from sending combat troops to Liberia to battle Ebola.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 10:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:54:16 -0500

The 82nd ABN is inbound in the near future so I'm going to go with "unofficially yes." It's not supposed to be a combat mission but an advise/assist mission, but we'll see how that turns out. As MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca said in his own response I'd be surprised if we didn't have operators there already doing their thing.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jan 28 at 2015 5:59 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:59:22 -0500

I agree With MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca unofficially, they are probably already there under the guise of advisers.

I think the president will continue the course for political reasons. I am not certain he will be able to hold off on putting boots on the ground. As president, he actually has good reason to. The terrorists have made specific threats against the United States. In my opinion, they have declared war directly against the US, and the president should respond appropriately. I do not think that boots on the ground at the moment is the answer, however, I think whatever the answer is should be decided without a political agenda (I know, impossible)

ISIS is spreading and so is their influence, and I think the president is going to have to do more than supplying opposition terrorists groups.