The Pentagon "3 Rs" Islamic Strategy Are Raqqa, Ramadi And Raids

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive to testify on U.S. military strategy in the Middle East before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27, 2015. DoD photo by Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

Julian Pecquet, US News and World Report/Al-Monitor: Pentagon Outlines Its 3 R's Islamic State Strategy

Democrats and Republicans alike have misgivings about the Pentagon's push for a greater U.S. 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."

WNU Editor: This is not a strategy .... far from it. But what else can they say .... after listening to their testimony yesterday it is clear (at least to me) that they are not sure on what they can do.