Obama authorizes 1,500 more troops for Iraq

Lately, however, with the aid of the U.S. strikes, IS has suffered a number of losses in Iraq, where it is fighting government forces, peshmerga and Shiite militias aided by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

Good to hear. And while I am not one to necessarily advocate putting more U.S. troops into these kinds of foreign fights, the vile nature of ISIS cannot be tolerated. If there is any kind of momentum building against them, then Obama is being smart in trying to seize the initiative.

"more U.S. troops are needed to bolster the struggling Iraqi forces"

How about some troops from the other two superpowers of the world, China and Russia? No good?

O.k...well, I think I see where my next Contract job is going to be...Yippe Kai' Yae' Mutha' ----. Lets' go kick some more --s.

As a liberal, this is not good at all. Obama's main claim to fame is telling the chickenhawks that constantly want a ground war NO!!!! Instead we are getting sucked in like Vietnam.

Troops doind training and advising? Review how the US involvement in Viet Nam started. Remember how that ended? Well, I guess it is just really restarting the Bush II war.

As a liberal, this is not good at all. Obama's main claim to fame is telling the chickenhawks that constantly want a ground war NO!!!! Instead we are getting sucked in like Vietnam.

Obama and all the liberals were kidding themselves if they ever thought that Obama has control over the events that were unfolding in Iraq and the Middle East, he didn't. His speech in Cairo didn't work and pulling the troops out was the absolute worst thing without leaving any residual force as he was advised by his military advisors and the same will go for Afghanistan if he just pulls out without any troops or doesn't establish a SOFA agreement.

Obama betrayed his campaign promise to end war in Iraq , as he packed the tent, failed to secure the agreement, and now sending 3,000 troops back to the war theater? It shows how ridiculous nonsense of his view, for more Iraqis and Syrians have died at greater numbers than years ago. Also, why is now after the midterm election? even liberals news media agree it was purely political as usual. Does he care, or understand this conflict? Maybe in empty words without actions. The hypocrite liberal war protesters would be on the street if G.O.P. executes same situation. Americans carry the burden while the opportunistic Arabs, China, Russia, and some Europeans wait to cash in after all things settle down! Really, these Muslim extremists must be stopped, but U.S. needs a clear policy in dealing with the whole region. Obviously, a narcissistic community organizer in chief makes more mess for years to come. Thanks to the stupidity of "hope" and "change". Obama needs another private secret letter to Uranian (a new name of Iranian) supreme autocracy!

"for more Iraqis and Syrians have died at greater numbers than years ago."

But not by Americans, right?. And how many Americans got blown up today in the Middle East?

Or perhaps you miss the thought of Americans at war, and the sight of mutilated American corpses hanging from Fuallujah's bridge, as in 2004, while the local crowds below cheered? If a Dem were in the White House then, there would surely be hell to pay, that's for sure.

"Obama and all the liberals were kidding themselves if they ever thought that Obama has control over the events that were unfolding in Iraq and the Middle East, he didn't."

Name one US president who has "controlled events" in Iraq and the Middle East.

Name one US president who has "controlled events" in Iraq and the Middle East

None, exactly my point! So why would Obama think he would be different from the other presidents?

Vietnam redux, courtesy of the Nobel Peace Prize president ......

'How about some troops from the other two superpowers of the world, China and Russia? No good?'

You keep posting this. I have no time for either government but given the recent bloodbaths in this basket case of an area maybe they are just not stupid enough. Anyone with half a brain and a memory longer than that of a goldfish should know that foreign intervention in this region will not solve anything. It never ceases to amaze me how people are prepared to throw more lives at this.

It's always the US who commits the lives and the money to fighting world terror. Everyone jumps on America for their quagmires, and rightfully so, but where's the appreciation when they go after a despicable group like ISIS/ISIL? If the superpowers actually worked together like they're supposed to, groups like these wouldn't be allowed to slaughter god knows how many.

Abe doesn't care, he'll just commit forces to run equipment, god forbid they get dirty. People don't care about genocide it seems unless it's in their own backyard and then they cry for help from others.

@harvey

America gets involved when it's in her own interests. No better and no worse than any other nation (with the possible exception of the Scandinavian countries).

There's nothing noble about foreign policy....

"Anyone with half a brain and a memory longer than that of a goldfish should know that foreign intervention in this region will not solve anything. It never ceases to amaze me how people are prepared to throw more lives at this."

Sure, we could just let the region fester until the fanatics who have taken it over completely launch more terrorist attacks on us...

Obama is trying but he needs to listen to DEM and GOP members than guessing situations. We like 1500 drones sent therw than soldiers. But people are disappointed soldiers are still in foreign countries. I don;t mean Japan. I mean middle east and Africa mainly.

How about some troops from the other two superpowers of the world, China and Russia? No good?

How about some troops from the Arab nations? Why ask the infidels to fix the problem.

And this is so like Vietnam Mark 2. Advisors. Miitary Advisors. Combat advisors. Combat mentors. Back up troops. And on it goes......

Heard a talking head on PMSNBC declare Obama a "warrior president" tonight over this move.

Any bets that liberal loon would say the same thing if Obama had an (R) behind his name?

The Iraqi Sunni troops in the Sunni areas that ran away when ISIS pulled up were also trained and equipped by the Americans. Obama and his brilliant advisors seem to have forgotten that. More Western ressources down the drain, hi-ho!

@Farmboy

That or steel toed Birkenstocks.

Americans will have to quit the military if they are going to have any effect

As with so much US foreign policy, this is mostly about military sales and enriching the death industries.

What happened to "No boots on the

Ground?

Wipeout:

" The Iraq war came about because George Bush thought - or was told - he would be different. If we go back to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, a reason that the United States was reluctant at the time to try and remove Saddam by means of direct military action in Iraq was that the place was almost certain to descend into civil war. This was publicly stated at the time, and reiterated later. This is Bush Sr. in 1998: "

Actually, at the time, the American liberals wanted Bush continue into Iraq and remove Saddam. "Finish the job" was the slogan emanating from the Democrats. It was Bush Sr. who resisted.

All forgotten already? All re-written to say the opposite? How short memories are, how easy Orwelian re-writing of history is.

Ughhh, I wish the US had never attacked Iraq. The balance of power has shifted. As bad as Saddam was, he kept the Islamic forces under control. I won't even get into loss of life or the invasion's $1,000,000,000,000 plus price tag.

Throwing good money after bad. Pull out the troops, and let the Middle East figure this one out. If they want to band together and make a formal request to the UN to put troops in there, then let the UN organize it. AmericaPolice have no business there.

Pull out the troops, and let the Middle East figure this one out.

Understand the sentiment but feel it disregards what Colin Powell termed the "Pottery Barn rule": You break it, you own it. That "cakewalk" the neocons sold America 12 years ago continues to haunt with no end in sight.

Actually, at the time, the American liberals wanted Bush continue into Iraq and remove Saddam.

Democrats in the Senate were only marginally in favor of the war resolution (and, remember, this was during that hype-jingoistic "Why do you hate America?" era), while those in the House overwhelmingly opposed. Where do you get this strange idea?

"No boots on the ground." Don't listen to what Obama says, wait to see what he does or doesn't do. This pretty much explains why Obama's policies lost in the past weeks election. Obama admitted that his policies were a part of the election and that Democrat's in Congress supported them. American voters rejected Obama's policies in historic fashion. No boots on the ground indeed.

I'm going to keep this one short! Obama is a talker! That's all he's ever done! I'm still trying to figure out how this individual received a Nobel Peace Prize?!

"No boots on the ground."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you're not totally ignorant and instead are just being mendacious. Obama is doing his best to prevent America from becoming embroiled in another Middle East land war - and trying to get ahead of the curve, because January will bring McCain and Graham to policy posts. We'll see how America receives their suggestions.

Obama is doing his best to prevent America from becoming embroiled in another Middle East land war

I'm going to assume that you are not utterly ignorant and you were aware that Obama was warned by McCain and others that by not negotiating an agreement with the Iraqi's that everything that has occurred in the region was going to happen. Obama's withdrawal made war more likely - not less. And don't give me that talking point about how Maliki would not agree to a status of forces agreement. Obama is sending troops back in to Iraq and there is still no status of forces agreement. Finally, have you noticed that Obama is no longer saying that there will be a total withdrawal of all US forces from Afghanistan at the end of this year?

This was inevitable. Once you put troops in there you're in for good, or bad.

How about some troops from the other two superpowers of the world, China and Russia? No good?'

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What this war in middle east got to do with Russia or China? Each of them did not start. Oh, you want China and Russia to attack USA forces there.

How about some troops from the other two superpowers of the world, China and Russia? No good?'

Because these two countries are not superpowers. They are regional powers. China is on it's way to being one. Russia is a wannabe. If America doesn't provide leadership then no country will. And don't ask the UN. Unfortunately, Obama's lead from behind strategy has reduced America's ability to act as a stabilizing force anywhere in the world. That's why there is chaos everywhere in the world now - not just in the Middle East. The only thing that you can count on Obama doing is to give in to America's enemies and push away it's closest allies.

Laguna, COME ON! How many bald-faced lies (repeated numerous times) will it take for you to admit that Obama's title should be Liar-In-Chief?

Face it, the Emporer has NO clothes.

Doesn't surprise me whatever this pResident say think the opposite because that is exactly what he does. He says it with his mouth but it comes out of his ass FOUL!!!!!

Understand the sentiment but feel it disregards what Colin Powell termed the "Pottery Barn rule": You break it, you own it. That "cakewalk" the neocons sold America 12 years ago continues to haunt with no end in sight.

Well, we're right back in Iraq and probably will see ground troops on the ground very soon, so what's your opinion about that? The so called Neocons started the war and the misguided liberals are now carrying the torch, how does that make you feel? The liberals in Iraq fighting with NO end in sight. Doesn't that make you equally as angry?

Democrats in the Senate were only marginally in favor of the war resolution (and, remember, this was during that hype-jingoistic "Why do you hate America?" era), while those in the House overwhelmingly opposed. Where do you get this strange idea?

But many Dems still supported the war, bottom line.

"No boots on the ground."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you're not totally ignorant and instead are just being mendacious. Obama is doing his best to prevent America from becoming embroiled in another Middle East land war - and trying to get ahead of the curve, because January will bring McCain and Graham to policy posts. We'll see how America receives their suggestions.

Obama is doing his best to make sure his legacy isn't tarnished and etched in stone and anyone that thinks differently isn't being honest with themselves. This is why he's doing small pin strikes and every, literally every senior advisor told Obama that if he really wants to make a big difference and defeat ISIS, he would have to send ground troops in and he hasn't and he doesn't want to. There is no other way you can affectively get up close to the enemy and take them out, definitely from not afar. Obama wants to hold out long enough until the next president comes into office and can take over for him. That's apparent. I feel like this if Obama really cared about the troops, about the country, he would either go all in, full hard with overwhelming force OR NOT go in at all. Yeah, he would still be a weak president, but at least he's not putting innocent men and woman's lives in danger. But what does he do, he gets his feet half wet and its wasting more and more money.

Obama had better get this Iraq operation over with in the next two years, as his older daughter will be old enough to join the military in two more years.

@John Galt

Laguna, COME ON! How many bald-faced lies (repeated numerous times) will it take for you to admit that Obama's title should be Liar-In-Chief?

After going back on his no troops on the ground pledge that his followers took as the gospel truth and the most recent revelations about his administrations lack of transparency in the Obamacare debate, you have to wonder if anything that comes out of Obama's mouth is truthful.