U.S. Defense Secretary: More US Troops Possible In Syria (Updated)

VOA: Pentagon Chief: US Prepared to Do More in Syria

WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said if the U.S. finds additional groups willing to fight Islamic State militants in Syria, he and President Barack Obama are prepared to deploy additional U.S. forces there.

Carter, appearing Sunday on U.S. television while aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the South China Sea, said that as the U.S. learned in Iraq and Afghanistan, the key to victory is having local forces capable not only of winning but also keeping the peace.

"Now, those are hard to find in Iraq and Syria. That’s why its going to take some time because we have to help develop, enable, encourage those forces," the defense chief said. Using an acronym for the group, he added that some forces "have shown some effectiveness in fighting ISIL and, if they grow in size, we’ll do more. If we find additional groups that are willing to fight ISIL, and they’re capable and are vetted, we’ll do more. The president has indicated a willingness to do more. I’m certainly prepared to recommend that he do more, but you need to have capable local forces."

Carter said the number of U.S. troops involved is less important than their abilities.

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