Ground Troops Needed to Defeat ISIS, Some Military Experts Say
The United States and allies have been combatting the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, or ISIS or ISIL) with volleys of airstrikes, but according to some experts, ground forces will be needed to defeat them. The head of Kirkuk, Iraq’s police forces, Brigadier General Sarhad Qadir, said, “We appreciate all the air strikes . . . we are thankful for this help and support. However, these air strikes must keep escalating in numbers and ground troops must be provided with military aid to drive out Isis from their strongholds.’’ Likewise, David Richards, Baron Richards of Hestermonceux, the former head of the United Kingdom’s armed forces said, “The only way to defeat ISIS is to take back land they are occupying which means a conventional military operation. The only way to do it effectively is to use Western armies, but I do understand the political resistance.”
Over the weekend, Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio said that he would support sending American troops to fight ISIS, if need be. We have no choice. These are barbarians. They intend to kill us. And if we don’t destroy them first, we’re gonna pay the price”, he said. At her weekly press conference yesterday, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi did not address the question of whether ground troops are needed, but she did say Congress should vote on a bill to authorize the President to use force against ISIS. “When this Congress comes back into session in November, it is important that we are here, we are ready to debate and vote on such an authorization”, she said.
According to a recent McClatchy poll, just under half of registered voters would support deploying ground troops against ISIS. A third of Democrats would back the move, compared with two-thirds of Republicans that say they would.
Newsweek: Air Strikes Will Never Work, Say the Troops Fighting ISIS
Leader Nancy Pelosi: Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today
McClatchyDC: Poll: Public Backing Grows for Obama’s Actions Against Islamic State
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