Gen Dempsey says it may be needed in some situations
A day after US military chief Gen Martin Dempsey hinted at the possibility of a combat role for US forces in the battle against ISIS in certain situations, President Barack Obama on Wednesday categorically ruled out such an eventuality.
“let me be clear: American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission,” Obama said, addressing said in remarks at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
“As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not commit you and the rest of our Armed Forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq,” he said, stressing that the role of US forces would be restricted to providing support for Iraqi forces fighting ISIS on the ground.
The comments by Dempsey during a testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee had given rise to speculation that the US might consider deployment of ground troops in certain situations.
Dempsey told the lawmakers questioning him that deployment of US Special Forces might be needed in support of the Iraqi forces battling ISIS and he could be recommending such action to the President.
However, reacting to Dempsey’s comments, the White House promptly reasserted Obama’s position that no ground troops would be pressed into service.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest commented that Gen. Dempsey was referring to “a hypothetical scenario” in which he might make a tactical recommendation to the President, but then the President, as the Commander-in-Chief, has been clear about not deploying ground troops in Iraq and Syria. “That policy has not changed,” Earnest added.
Dempsey, under questioning from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, acknowledged that Obama has ruled out putting American boots on the ground, but added: “He has told me, as well, to come back to him on a case-by-case basis.”
“If we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific [Islamic State] targets, I’ll recommend that to the President,” Dempsey said.
On the Syrian front, the Congress has begun acting on President Obama’s request to approve the training and equipping of about 5,000 moderate Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State militants. A House resolution, set for a vote on Wednesday and expected to be approved on a bipartisan basis, makes it clear that it does not support deployment of US forces on the ground.