U.S. Defense Secretary Carter’s Senate Testimony On The Middle East -- A News Roundup

CNN: Ashton Carter opens door to U.S. ground support for Iraqi forces in Ramadi

Washington (CNN)U.S. Gen. Paul Selva withstood one of the most biting rebuttals of the country's ISIS strategy Wednesday when he told lawmakers the Pentagon would not impose a no-fly zone on Syria because of possible blowback from Russia and Syria.

"We have the military capacity to impose a no-fly zone. The question that we need to ask is do we have the political and policy backdrop with which to do so," Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Selva told the Senate Armed Services Committee, pointing to the threat of "direct conflict" with Syrian forces or "a miscalculation" with the Russians should they challenge the no-fly zone.

Committee Chairman John McCain, an Arizona Republican, shot back: "I must say, it's one of the more embarrassing statements I've ever heard from a uniformed military officer, that we are worried about Syria and Russia's reaction to saving the lives of thousands and thousands of Syrians who are being barrel-bombed and massacred."

More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Carter’s Senate Testimony On The Middle East

Carter Says ISIL Must Be Defeated in its ‘Parent Tumor’ -- US Department of Defense
Carter Cautions US Ground Troops Would 'Americanize' ISIS Fight -- Defense News
Pentagon chief: No 'significant' ground force in Syria or Iraq -- The Hill
Carter promises helicopters for Iraq, tells Gulf countries to “step up” in the fight against ISIS -- Washington Post
US Strategy Against Islamic State Group: Anti-ISIS Military Action In Syria Outlined By Pentagon Chief Ash Carter -- IBTimes
U.S. Is Willing to Use Attack Helicopters to Help Fight ISIS -- NYT
U.S. troops, aircraft may enter battle for Ramadi, Carter says -- Military Times
Defense secretary: US willing to send attack helicopters, more advisers to Iraq to retake city -- AP
Will the U.S. Join the Fight Against ISIS in Ramadi? -- The Atlantic
Anti-IS Ground Forces Debated on Capitol Hill -- VOA
McCain slams Pentagon boss over lack of progress against ISIS -- FOX News
Carter chides Congress on the war against ISIL -- Politico
Carter, McCain tangle over Pentagon's Islamic State strategy -- USA Today
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter: U.S. Will Help "Finish the Job" Against ISIS in Iraq -- Reuters
Defense Sec. Ash Carter: ISIS is not contained -- CBS
US Requests Special Forces, Aircraft, Weapons From Anti-Daesh Coalition -- Sputnik
US Expeditionary Force to Conduct ‘Unilateral Operations’ in Syria -- Sputnik
If Another Terror Attack Hit U.S., Defense Secretary Wouldn't Change ISIS Strategy -- PJ Media
On Syria, U.S. military leaders offer only timidity -- Dana Milbank, washington Post
Sifting for facts: 6 things we learned from Secretary Carter’s Senate testimony -- RT