The U.S. Fight Against The Islamic State Is Being Delayed Because Of Money

An F/A-18E Super Hornet sits on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson at sea, Oct. 16, 2014. The Carl Vinson and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 17, are deployed supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The aircraft is assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 81. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr.

Islamic State Fight Stymied Until Congress Votes, Official Says -- Bloomberg

The U.S. can’t deploy as many as 1,500 additional personnel to train, equip and assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces unless Congress approves $1.6 billion in added war funding, the Pentagon comptroller said.

“We can’t get started in any meaningful way on these train-and-equip programs without new funding and authority,” Michael McCord said today in an interview. The $1.6 billion is “the most time-sensitive” part of a $5.6 billion request that President Barack Obama made last week to fight Islamic State extremists, McCord said.

While the president has the power as commander-in-chief to deploy American troops, paying for them to train the forces of other nations is another matter, McCord said. “It’s either you have the authority or you don’t,” McCord said. “If you don’t have some legislative authority, we are very hamstrung.”

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Update #1: Obama wants $165 million for Syrian rebels -- Al-Monitor
Update #2: Obama seeks $5.6bn from Congress to fight IS -- DAWN
Update #3: US war against IS steadily escalates, raising stakes -- Daily Mail/AFP

My Comment: Three months and more than 800 air strikes .... I do not see any end in sight for this conflict. If anything .... I can see this conflict going on for years .... taking numerous lives .... and costing tens of billions of dollars.