U.S. Military Not Eager To Support President Obama's Islamic State War Strategy

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey (L-R), U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and President Barack Obama stand for the playing of taps during the Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia May 25, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Washington Post: In White House’s Iraq debate, military brass pushed for doing less

As President Obama was weighing how to halt Islamic State advances in Iraq, some of the strongest resistance to boosting U.S. involvement came from a surprising place: a war-weary military that has grown increasingly skeptical that force can prevail in a conflict fueled by political and religious grievances.

Top military officials, who have typically argued for more combat power to overcome battlefield setbacks over the past decade, emerged in recent White House debates as consistent voices of caution in Iraq. Their shift reflects the paucity of good options and a reluctance to suffer more combat deaths in a war in which America’s political leaders are far from committed and Iraqis have shown limited will to fight.

“After the past 12 years in the Middle East, there is a real focus by senior military leaders on understanding what the endgame is,” said a military official, “and asking the question, ‘To what end are we doing this?’ ”

WNU Editor: President Obama has shown no desire to commit to a strategy on victory in the war against the Islamic State. If anything .... his proposals will prolong the conflict making it even more bloodier and inconclusive. Opting for a quagmire rather than victory is something that I am sure the military is not enthusiastic about .... and they are now voicing their reluctance bluntly.