Will U.S. Troops Play A Bigger Role In The Offensive To Retake Mosul From The Islamic State?

Kurdish peshmerga forces patrol an area near Mosul in northern Iraq

Jim Michaels, USA TODAY: Will U.S. troops be drawn back into Iraq war?

WASHINGTON – A coming Iraqi offensive to drive the Islamic State out of Iraq's second largest city is renewing a debate on whether U.S. forces should play a larger role in the operation despite the risk of drawing them back into a war.

The White House has pledged to keep American forces out of combat, but Iraq would suffer a major setback in Mosul if its troops falter because U.S. advisers are restricted in what they can do, security analysts say.

WNU Editor: U.S. Secretary of State Kerry is already hinting on what may be the White House's position .... Kerry: 'Enduring' offensive means 'weeks and weeks of combat' (The Hill). What's my take .... I can easily see U.S. soldiers being embedded with Iraqi military forces .... especially when airstrikes may be called to destroy ISIS positions. In the meantime, the U.S. is speeding-up its arms deliveries .... U.S. Ramps Up Arms Deliveries Ahead of Mosul Offensive Against ISIS (Newsweek)