U.S. Could Use Ground Troops to Aid Rescue of Iraq Refugees

[applegrove]

U.S. Could Use Ground Troops to Aid Rescue of Iraq Refugees

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and HELENE COOPER

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/world/middleeast/us-may-weigh-using-ground-troops-to-aid-rescue-of-iraq-refugees.html?_r=1

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EDGARTOWN, Mass. — A senior White House official said on Wednesday that the United States would consider using American ground troops to assist Iraqis in rescuing Yazidi refugees if recommended by military advisers assessing the situation.

Benjamin J. Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Martha’s Vineyard that President Obama would probably receive recommendations in the next several days about how to mount a rescue operation to help the refugees, who are stranded on a mountaintop surrounded by Sunni militants. He said those recommendations could include the use of American ground troops.

But he drew a distinction between the use of American forces to help a humanitarian mission and the use of troops in the battle against militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, something he said the president had rejected before and continued to oppose.


“What he’s ruled out is reintroducing U.S. forces into combat on the ground in Iraq,” Mr. Rhodes said. He added, using an alternative name for the militant group, that the deployment of ground troops to assist a rescue was “different than reintroducing U.S. forces in a combat role to take the fight to ISIL.”





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[WillyT]

1. Looks Like They Already Have... Go Here:

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/us-troops-iraq_n_5675651.html

[msongs]

2. alternatively, the people, military, and gov't of Iraq could take care of their own issues nt

[atreides1]

3. Here's what they might need

A Mech Infantry unit, at least brigade strength with other assets...to include attack and cargo helicopters, as well as ground transportation.

The unit will have to establish a safe corridor for both vehicles and aircraft so that the Yazidis can get down the mountain going towards Kurdish territory!

But then you still have the question of what happens once the Yazidis are safe?


Of course this is all just a theory on my part...anyone else want to offer a scenario?

[WillyT]

4. Kick !!!