Pentagon outlines its '3Rs' Islamic State strategy
Democrats and Republicans alike have misgivings about the Pentagon's push for a greater US role in Iraq and Syria.
The Pentagon's push for a beefed-up US role in the war against the Islamic State (IS) landed with a thud on Capitol Hill on Oct. 27.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter told lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee that military officials are considering a strategy of "3 Rs" focusing on Raqqa, Ramadi and raids in their bid to put the Islamist group on the back foot. Carter said the strategy includes a stepped-up bombing campaign as well as more special forces missions that will put US troops in harm's way.
"We won’t hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL [IS]," Carter said, "or conducting such missions directly, whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground."
Some Democrats immediately raised concerns with a strategy they fear will inevitably lead to an escalation of the US troop presence. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., warned of "endless war" as the first reports began to float new proposals to embed US troops with Iraqi security forces and deploy special forces to Syria.
