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WSJ: Obama Reportedly Mulling an “International Rescue Mission” in Iraq
Townhall.com ^ | August 13, 2014 | Daniel Doherty

Posted on 08/13/2014 5:40:17 AM PDT by Kaslin

According to the Wall Street Journal, the situation on the ground in northern Iraq is so perilous that President Obama is seriously considering sending a rescue mission to save the displaced Yazidi refugees trapped on Mount Sinjar. The details of such an operation are still in their earliest stages of development (and, of course, there’s no telling whether or not the president would even sign off on such a daring operation) but such a rescue attempt, if approved, would send shockwaves through the nation for one obvious reason: it would almost certainly involve redeploying U.S. ground troops to Iraq:

The U.S. military is exploring plans for an international rescue mission to save thousands of desperate Yazidi refugees trapped by Sunni militants in a barren northern Iraqi mountain range, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

While the proposal is still under development, U.S. officials said the military is considering staging a dangerous rescue operation that could for the first time put American troops in direct confrontation with a militant group calling itself the Islamic State.

Any plan would have to be approved by President Barack Obama. U.S. officials said the rescue mission is one of many options the U.S. military is weighing after dropping food and water to dying refugees for the past six days.

"People are looking at ways to do something more than just drop water and supplies," said one senior U.S. official. "You can only do that for so long."

On Tuesday, the Pentagon said it is sending additional 100 military advisers to northern Iraq to develop options the Pentagon can present to Mr. Obama.

It’s true that humanitarian aid can only go so far. But such a proposal is also fraught with inherent dangers and difficulties. What, for example, is the U.S. supposed to do with upwards of 35,000 refugees stranded on the mountain? Many are too old (or sick) to walk to find food and water. Are U.S. forces supposed to carry them to safety? And where will they go? These are only some of the logistics our newly deployed “military advisers” will have to figure out, and soon, if such a proposal is going to succeed.

At the same time, the president finds himself in an impossible predicament: if he doesn’t sign off on a rescue mission, and ISIS slaughters more Yazidis and Christians, he will be accused of letting innocents die on his watch. If, on the other hand, he authorizes the operation and it goes south (or, God forbid, an American soldier is killed) he will be accused (especially by his base) of recklessly re-prosecuting a war he supposedly already won. There are no good options here. But perhaps the worst option would be to sit back and allow an entire sect of people to be systemically exterminated by a rabid band of Islamic extremists.

Either way, the president has an important decision to make. Tick tock.

UPDATE: The U.S. is sending 130 (not 100) military advisers to Iraq.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: iraq
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To: Night Hides Not

Just send a few Texas Rangers.


21 posted on 08/13/2014 6:21:00 AM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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To: null and void
The Yazidis are an ancient religion, one whose people revere Melek Taus, who is also known as the Peacock Angel, or Shaytan, or in English: Satan.

Who has been portraying them as Christians, and why?

22 posted on 08/13/2014 6:21:34 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: Netz

Cruz/Watts ?


23 posted on 08/13/2014 6:23:18 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: Jim Noble
Just send a few Texas Rangers.

Given our current military leadership, they'd be used ineffectively. I'm still trying to get my arms wrapped around the fact that 7K-10K ISIS can take over all the territory they've won.

Yet, with all the stories and photos of beheadings and other murders, liberals in this country are more worried about the dangers of the Tea Party.

24 posted on 08/13/2014 6:25:39 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Mississippi!)
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To: Kaslin
Yes I know it is misspelled. Take it up with the "artist".
25 posted on 08/13/2014 6:25:49 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: tacticalogic

C’mon...is that the best we can do?

How about, (and I know I am going to get attacked here) Condi Rice? She’s too smart though and won’t run.


26 posted on 08/13/2014 6:28:33 AM PDT by Netz
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To: Kaslin

Mulling over ia a synonym for dithering. It means to appear to be acting while merely screwing around hoping the problem will go away


27 posted on 08/13/2014 6:30:57 AM PDT by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc.;+12 ..... Obama is public enemy #1)
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To: Netz
C’mon...is that the best we can do?

Define "best".

28 posted on 08/13/2014 6:31:53 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: Kaslin; Gilbo_3; Impy; NFHale; stephenjohnbanker; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; Perdogg; Liz; ...
RE :”At the same time, the president finds himself in an impossible predicament: if he doesn’t sign off on a rescue mission, and ISIS slaughters more Yazidis and Christians, he will be accused of letting innocents die on his watch. If, on the other hand, he authorizes the operation and it goes south (or, God forbid, an American soldier is killed) he will be accused (especially by his base) of recklessly re-prosecuting a war he supposedly already won. There are no good options here. But perhaps the worst option would be to sit back and allow an entire sect of people to be systemically exterminated by a rabid band of Islamic extremists. “

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, recall 2007 through 2012 when we were lectured that Obama had all the answers.

His world apology tour?

His ‘talking to our enemies’ strategy?

Just leave and there will be peace?

29 posted on 08/13/2014 6:40:30 AM PDT by sickoflibs (King Obama : 'The debate is over. The time for talk is over. Just follow my commands you serfs""')
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To: tacticalogic
Best = Serious, dynamic and wide-appeal candidate that can galvanize the nation again into voting for a Conservative with a vision and past experience.
30 posted on 08/13/2014 6:42:05 AM PDT by Netz
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To: Kaslin

The Yazidis stuck on this mountain represent only a handful of those being persecuted and killed by ISIS. Imagine FDR sending US troops across German lines to rescue a single Jewish village surrounded by the Nazis..would that have prevented the holocaust?


31 posted on 08/13/2014 6:48:04 AM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: JimRed

32 posted on 08/13/2014 7:02:59 AM PDT by null and void (If Bill Clinton was the first black president, why isn't Barack Obama the first woman president?)
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To: JimRed

ISIS has got our Abrahms tanks. A few more rifles & RPGs would be of far more benefit to the refugees than the Islamist slime.


33 posted on 08/13/2014 7:08:53 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: Netz

For mac daddy the meaning of “mulling” is deciding who will get the blame when, like all others decisions from him, it gets totally f’d up.


34 posted on 08/13/2014 7:08:54 AM PDT by chiefqc
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To: Kaslin

Let’s be sure to tell the enemy what we are going to do far enough in advance that we will certainly fail. That’s lead from behind.


35 posted on 08/13/2014 7:15:01 AM PDT by Hattie
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To: Netz

Cruz or JC Watts can’t do that?


36 posted on 08/13/2014 7:15:34 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: N. Theknow
International Rescue Mission - translation - I don’t have the balls to do it myself.

Exactly! ...probably assign Crazy Uncle Joe to the job.

37 posted on 08/13/2014 7:25:14 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: tacticalogic
The Rats will just want a mulligan, and we'll have to do it all over again with whatever socialist idiot they come up with next.

Hillary ("We're going to take things away from you for the common good") Clinton.
38 posted on 08/13/2014 7:35:35 AM PDT by Deo volente (God willing, America shall survive this Obamanation.)
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To: Deo volente
Hillary ("We're going to take things away from you for the common good") Clinton.

My favorite Hillary quote is "We'll just have to change human nature."

39 posted on 08/13/2014 7:40:16 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: Kaslin
International Rescue--Thunderbirds are go.
40 posted on 08/13/2014 7:42:06 AM PDT by windcliff
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