Officials: US to Send More Troops to Iraq to Help With Mosul

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AP

President Barack Obama is preparing to send more troops to Iraq to help reclaim the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The troops will train and advise Iraqi forces as planning for the Mosul operation ramps up, officials said. Though the precise number of troops was not immediately disclosed, one official said roughly 600 addition troops would be sent.

It wasn't clear whether the troops would include special operations forces, some of which are already serving in Iraq.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the development before the official announcement, expected later Wednesday.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/officials-us-send-troops-iraq-mosul-42415519

[Renew Deal]

1. I think Obama wants to take back Mosul before he leaves office

That way he can do it his way.

[Elmergantry]

2. i thought we were out

Of iraq. No more impearlist war.

[Renew Deal]

3. It's time for you to catch up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_Iraq_(2014%E2%80%93present)

[maxsolomon]

4. We're there at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

after the status of forces agreement that bush the war criminal signed, requiring withdrawal of our armies.

the troops are for training, logistical support, and air combat in the fight against ISIL. basically to give the iraqi army a spine. they supported the re-taking of falluja already.

mosul is a larger city. bigger task.

[Elmergantry]

5. iraqi puppet govt set up by

Bush and haliburton.

[EX500rider]

8. Iraqi government voted in by Iraqi citizens actually..

Haliburton had squat to do with it.

[Elmergantry]

12. gee

And all along during the bush years i read right here that this was regime change to put in a puppet govt by bush and cheney in order to promte us hegemony in the region, steal the oil and line haliburton pockets. Amazing how opinions change when the president changes.

[EX500rider]

15. Haliburton/KBR does oil field work..

....and sets up and maintains US bases....they have nothing to do with Iraqi's electing their government. Under any US President.

Which of these do you think is the Pro-Haliburton faction? lol

Summary of the 2010 election for Council of Representatives of Iraq
Alliances and parties Votes % Seats +/–
Iraqi National Movement (al-Iraqiya) 2,849,612 24.72% 91 Increase54
State of Law Coalition 2,792,083 24.22% 89 Increase64
National Iraqi Alliance 2,092,066 18.15% 70 Decrease35
Kurdistan Alliance 1,681,714 14.59% 43 Decrease10
Movement for Change (Gorran) 476,478 4.13% 8 Increase8
Unity Alliance of Iraq 306,647 2.66% 4 Increase4
Iraqi Accord Front (al-Tawafuq) 298,226 2.59% 6 Decrease38
Kurdistan Islamic Union 243,720 2.12% 4 Decrease1
Islamic Group of Kurdistan 152,530 1.32% 2 Increase1
Minorities 61,153 - 8 Increase6
Total (turnout 62.4 %)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Iraq

[Elmergantry]

16. Wow that sounds like something I heard

from those who supported our illegal war in Iraq. Is this Free Republic?

[EX500rider]

18. They might say the sky is blue too which is all i did.

[ColemanMaskell]

28. I agree with EX500rider that an insult does not constitute a logical argument

If you think someone's information or logic is incorrect, civil discourse would address the things he said by contradicting the arguments directly. Saying his mother wears combat boots would not be a contradiction of anything he said. To counter his statements effectively you need to use what they call counter-arguments and contradicting evidence.

A forum like this becomes useless if it is allowed to deteriorate into name-calling and insults.

[ripcord]

6. Have we ever figured out exactly

How many troops will finally equal boots on the ground?

[Elmergantry]

7. ashton carter today said

Will be 5000.

Maybe they are wearing slippers

No war for oil.

[maxsolomon]

9. we already lost the war for oil

now we're fighting to stop fanatical Sunni end-timers from establishing a rogue state.

you know they want to start WW3, right?

[cpwm17]

10. We won the war for the war mongers.

They've gotten their wars and they will likely get more.

[maxsolomon]

11. That's so abstract as to be meaningless.

Who are the "war mongers"? The MIC? The DoD? Defense contractors?

Specifically, who got their war and who will get the next one?

I don't think Obama is in Iraq or Syria for profit. He's in there because he doesn't have a choice - Bush drove us into a ditch. Getting out of it is complicated.

I suppose I'm naïve that way.

[Elmergantry]

13. the us

Wants the oil now controlled by isis. War is a racket to line the pockets of the rich.

[maxsolomon]

14. how, precisely, would we get it?

like Syria and Iraq would sell it to us? isn't that what they already do?

if you think we'd occupy the oil fields and extract via a pipeline or trucks, you're

[Elmergantry]

17. Wasnt my arguments the

same ones used on this very website in the run up and and thru the Iraq war?

My how the worm turns.

[PersonNumber503602]

19. Am I wrong to assume you're a Bush fan?

[Elmergantry]

20. Uh yes

Bush was just another political hack.

His war was unjustified, killed thousands, squandered treasure, and further screwed up the ME.

Obama promised to get us out. He did. Good for him.

Now h'es dragging us back in and I say WTF!!

[maxsolomon]

23. Elmer, we never got all the way out

and the rise of ISIL across the Sunni regions of the Levant has caused the Shiite government to ask for our help. there is a case beyond oil that can be made for "dragging us back in". saying we're there for oil is too simplistic at this point. we're there to stop a nation with an explicitly genocidal mission from arising as well. Yazidis, Christians, Kurds, all have an interest in seeing ISIL crushed.

I was against the 2003 invasion just as much as any DUer, because I thought it would become a quagmire (and kill 1000s). it has. but looking at the current situation dispassionately is NOT the same as FR, or condoning the original invasion.

Afghanistan is much the same. We leave 100%, the "nation" will fall to fanatical Sunni Pashtun.

[Elmergantry]

25. yes i can see your points

Some if my points were a bit tongue in cheek. But what do we have to do to stop getting dragged into these messes? Reminds me of the don in godfather iii: everytime i get out they pull me back in! Dont we now produce more oil than anyone? Let those who need the oil put up something for a change. Weve given enough.

[maxsolomon]

26. what we have to do is

never allow another republican in the white house.

at least that's a start!

[Kennah]

21. Third time is the charm? (n/t)

[maxsolomon]

24. what does that mean?

this is the quagmire left from the 2nd invasion. there will be no 3rd.

[Kennah]

30. I view it as a matter of perspective

After the first Iraq War, we continued to enforce a No Fly Zone from 1991 to 2003.

After the second Iraq War, we kept troops and bases there.

Now we're ratcheting up for another full blown Iraq War.

[maxsolomon]

31. The only way that happens is Trump.

He's dumb enough.

[vinny9698]

22. What we Iraq needs is Trump's secret plan. Right Now.

Donald where is your secret plan? Are you going to let unnecessary people die? Show us your wisdom. Maybe offer free scholarships to Trump U to ISIS and tell them, hey my base's believes and your believes are the same.
That should do it. Tell them that you are also going to build the Trump caliphate.

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. How many times have we rescued Mosul?

At what time is the government going to admit that there must large permanent force in place in Iraq, and the Ameriacn people are going to have pay higher taxes for it? The American people overwhelmingly backed the invasion of Iraq and now must pay forever.

[maxsolomon]

32. I don't believe we've ever "rescued" Mosul

But ISIL has controlled it for over 2 years.

Are you referring to a "rescue" in, like, 2006? I don't remember that.

[DustyJoe]

29. Just in time for the elections and Holidays ... good grief NT