U.S. Defense Chief Admits That U.S. Involvement In Iraq Is Not Over

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, August 21, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Yuri Gripas

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Says Involvement in Iraq Not Over -- NBC

U.S. military involvement in Iraq will continue because the long-term threat from ISIS is more dangerous, even than that from al-Qaeda, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday.

In a briefing at the Pentagon a day after the U.S. revealed that it launched a failed mission in Syria this summer to rescue U.S. hostages being held by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sharm, Hagel said the U.S. "must be clear-eyed about the challenges ahead," stressing: "U.S. military involvement in Iraq is not over."

Asked to compare ISIS to al-Qaeda, Hagel said it was "beyond anything we've seen," calling the group more than "just a terrorist group."

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Update: Hagel says Islamic State will regroup, Dempsey raises Syria strike option -- The Australian/AP

My Comment: Sadly .... Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is probably right on this one.