| Tango01 | 13 Mar 2015 8:52 p.m. PST |
… To Fight The Islamic State. "Over half of Americans would now support the United States sending ground troops to battle ISIS. That's the result of a YouGov poll conducted in early March. One of the key reasons 53 percent of people are in favour of ground troops is that there are few viable alternatives. Even though air strikes in Iraq and Syria have stalled the momentum of ISIS militants, less than one in four Americans believe they can be defeated through air power alone. Democrats are divided when it comes to supporting an American ground offensive. However, the same can't be said of Republicans – 69 percent of them would support a deployment of ground troops while just 23 percent would be opposed…"
Full article here
link This is a major shift in U.S. public opinion. Will the White House and Congress react to reflect this sentiment ….?
What if they do? Amicalement
Armand |
| Bangorstu | 14 Mar 2015 2:52 a.m. PST |
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| Stryderg | 14 Mar 2015 7:41 a.m. PST |
Why would the White House or Congress react to public sentiment, they <--SELF CONTROL PROTOCOLS IMPLEMENTED-->…<--BLUE FEZ TERRITORY DETECTED-->…<--TRANSMISSION TERMINATED--> |
 Legion 4   | 14 Mar 2015 9:50 a.m. PST |
No need, they're losing.
It appears Daesh are not the juggernaut they first seemed. Now that local forces besides the Kurds seem to be effective in combat ops [with support]. Regardless, the US, UK, etc. don't really need to send anymore troops then are already there as trainers, etc. … Let the locals, and yes, that includes the Persians take care of their own "family" problems … Then we'll worry about the Shias and Sunnis and Kurds [who are Sunni] and the other tiny local minorities work out their "sets of differences". Daesh is the priority now … And in more places then just Iraq and Syria … |
| Lion in the Stars | 14 Mar 2015 11:04 a.m. PST |
It's kinda telling that even the Democrats are 44-43 on deploying US troops, though I gotta ask: What's the margin of error on that poll? The usual 4%? |
| Noble713 | 14 Mar 2015 1:20 p.m. PST |
Would be interesting to see a follow-up question like this:
"If you answered yes, how many of your relatives are you willing to risk in this endeavor." I bet you most would answer "None". People are quick to spill the blood of strangers… |
| Tgunner | 14 Mar 2015 3:26 p.m. PST |
I don't know about regular troops, but I can see a real role for special forces troops working with the various militias and rebels fighting them. Sort of like what we did in Afghanistan and in the Kurdish part of the 2003 war. A few thousand of those guys would make a serious difference in training, supporting, and leading those local forces already engaged. |
| Legion 4 | 14 Mar 2015 4:45 p.m. PST |
"If you answered yes, how many of your relatives are you willing to risk in this endeavor."I bet you most would answer "None". People are quick to spill the blood of strangers…
You got that right ! I don't know about regular troops, but I can see a real role for special forces troops working with the various militias and rebels fighting them. Sort of like what we did in Afghanistan and in the Kurdish part of the 2003 war. A few thousand of those guys would make a serious difference in training, supporting, and leading those local forces already engaged.
Well the US already has about 3000-4000 there now mostly Spec Ops type like SF, DELTA, SEALs, etc. Plus all the others like the UK, Canada, Oz, Germany, etc., have similar types deployed as well … But it looks the Iraqi's are taking their orders from the Iranians deployed there also. Frankly, just so they are going toe-to-toe with Daesh. I see that as a positive thing. |
| mandt2 | 14 Mar 2015 8:55 p.m. PST |
Pew Research came up with very similar conclusions. What amazes me is that a majority of Americans now think we can succeed in the very kind of conflict that we have failed at so completely in the past. I wonder how the polls would look if we had a draft. link |
| Legion 4 | 15 Mar 2015 9:10 a.m. PST |
Pew Research came up with very similar conclusions.What amazes me is that a majority of Americans now think we can succeed in the very kind of conflict that we have failed at so completely in the past. I wonder how the polls would look if we had a draft. Not surprising … and as you and I and others have noted. We went to Iraq in force twice. And we see the results. Best to let the few 1000s of SF, CIA, Spec Ops types we and others from the West, have there to do other than direct ground combat. The entire religious, ethic, tribal, etc., affilations gets in the way. As we see … the locals work better killing each other off, with other moslem support, etc. … Like the Iranian actions have shown. Again … I may be wrong … But bottomline it seems to come down to support from "infidels" vs. other moslems. Regardless in the end … they need to work this out among themselves … At this point worrying about Iran's end game, the weak segregated Iraqi leadership, etc., may have to wait until all of Daesh is dead, gone and/or sweating out in cells a Gitmo. Or even much better yet at Abu Graibe under other moslems' control. Of course, I totally agree, a draft in this day and age would be a whole other paradigm. And IMO would be a very bad idea. If we learned anything from Vietnam. The Anti-War Movement was really more of an Anti-Draft reaction. If there was no Draft then, the majority of the ones protesting would be celebs, etc. … And frankly as I have said many times before. I'd much rather lead a professional all volunteer force … Than guys off the the street, or farms, etc. who don't want to be there … |
| CFeicht | 15 Mar 2015 2:35 p.m. PST |
No ground forces to support the Iranian client state called Iraq. |
| Great War Ace | 15 Mar 2015 3:23 p.m. PST |
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| jpattern2 | 15 Mar 2015 4:06 p.m. PST |
You guys have it all wrong. The third time's the charm!
Or is this the fourth time? I lose track. |
| MarescialloDiCampo | 20 Mar 2015 12:08 p.m. PST |
Legion 4 – isn't it sad that the myriad of Hollywoodian actors have more sway over our government than the real think tanks…
Looks like more than one Politico (no names) thinks he's a Hollywood Star or wants to be…
Just like the e-mail scandal.
And as for me "No" – been there done that, have the T-shirt… One of the soldiers asked on pre-deployment "What does Iraq smell like"…after laughing uncontrollably we told him. |
| Cacique Caribe | 20 Mar 2015 1:05 p.m. PST |
And fight side by side with our new allies … the Iranians? Dan |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 20 Mar 2015 1:35 p.m. PST |
I wouldn't read too much into this. Historically speaking, prevailing public opinion in America are often ill-considered and very fickle. |
| jpattern2 | 20 Mar 2015 3:43 p.m. PST |
One of the soldiers asked on pre-deployment "What does Iraq smell like" With apologies to Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, it sure as hell doesn't smell like victory. |
| latto6plus2 | 25 Mar 2015 9:43 a.m. PST |
Its a colonial war – the new Great Game, except its Iran and Turkey were playing it with. We'll get best value as others say, by putting in experts and advisors, small amounts of reasonable weaponry, build trust and relationships and get an idea of who loves/hates/is related to who in the region. I think US troops had got this going with some effect pre Isis when the locals turned on al qaeda.
Once we know what were doing maybe we can think big again without totally screwing it up. |
| Visceral Impact Studios | 25 Mar 2015 10:10 a.m. PST |
There should be two questions in that poll: 1. Do you support sending ground troops to fight ISIS? 2. Are you willing to fight and/or pay the additional taxes to fund the fight? I can see lots of people saying yes to 1. But as for 2, no way, the vast, vast majority of Americans have no desire to fight or, especially, pay for the fight. |
| Legion 4 | 25 Mar 2015 11:25 a.m. PST |
Legion 4 – isn't it sad that the myriad of Hollywoodian actors have more sway over our government than the real think tanks…
Yep … been that way for sometime, unfortunately … |
| jpattern2 | 25 Mar 2015 3:48 p.m. PST |
Define "real think tanks."  |
| Cacique Caribe | 25 Mar 2015 10:30 p.m. PST |
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