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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: Kaslin
The Yazidis and Christians are both missing the boat.

If they only had the good sense to pledge allegiance to 0bama and vote Demoncrat for life, 0bama and the Demoncrats would be hell bent to save them and bring them to America. It would be Executive Order City out there and the military would be in full rescue mode!

As it is, they are pretty much doomed except for a token bottle of water and an MRE here and there.

41 posted on 08/13/2014 8:03:29 AM PDT by Gritty (To remain free, a people need the spirit of liberty. Once lost, there's no easy roads back.-Mk Steyn)
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To: sickoflibs; Kaslin; Gilbo_3; Impy; stephenjohnbanker; GOPsterinMA; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; ...

“...when we were lectured that Obama had all the answers...”

It would appear, by all accounts and events since then...
that perhaps - JUST perhaps, mind you - he clearly doesn’t.

But Shhh... Don’ tells no ones...


42 posted on 08/13/2014 9:07:27 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: tacticalogic

Cruz??? Nope.


43 posted on 08/13/2014 9:56:13 AM PDT by Netz
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To: Netz

Well, let us know when you find someone who suits us.


44 posted on 08/13/2014 10:11:23 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: sickoflibs; Kaslin; Gilbo_3; Impy; NFHale; stephenjohnbanker; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; Perdogg; ...

” 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? “

LOL....the huge global peace bill just came in.......all due and payable RIGHT NOW !!


45 posted on 08/13/2014 10:19:51 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (The only people in the world who fear Obama are American citizens. KILL THE BILL!)
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To: NFHale

Now now....just because all of our enemies all around the world believe Obama is a wimp. and a coward, and are proceeding to bring forth a global river of blood........

oh, never mind : )


46 posted on 08/13/2014 10:25:10 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (The only people in the world who fear Obama are American citizens. KILL THE BILL!)
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To: Kaslin

What will happen if those military advisors are charged with war crimes? According to Obama that’s why he pulled out.


47 posted on 08/13/2014 2:58:12 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (Liberals were raised by women or wimps. And they're all stupid.)
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To: Kaslin

Follow the money.


48 posted on 08/13/2014 3:00:20 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ("If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun" - Obama, setting RoE with his opposition)
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To: Netz

Bill Clinton ran for president because he wanted to be president. Hillary will run for president because she wants to be president. Obama ran for president because he wants to destroy the U.S.


49 posted on 08/13/2014 3:01:42 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (Liberals were raised by women or wimps. And they're all stupid.)
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To: Kaslin

Hmm, well, he’ll need someone with experience in forming an international coalition in order to address the issue. I hear a fellow named “Bush” is available.


50 posted on 08/13/2014 3:01:49 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: NFHale

At least Sarah Palin didn’t get elected. /s


51 posted on 08/13/2014 3:04:45 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (Liberals were raised by women or wimps. And they're all stupid.)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

If he mulls till there are only 50 non Muslims alive, the mission will be easier.

52 posted on 08/13/2014 5:49:56 PM PDT by SJackson (incompetent and feckless..the story of the Obama presidency. No hand on the f***ing tiller, Hillary)
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To: Kaslin
The plan for the rescue effort.


53 posted on 08/13/2014 6:30:28 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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To: Kaslin

54 posted on 08/13/2014 6:37:28 PM PDT by Manic_Episode (GOP = The Whig Party)
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To: Manic_Episode
The Pratman!

“Riddle me this...riddle me that...who’s afraid of the big black prat?”

55 posted on 08/13/2014 6:44:22 PM PDT by RichInOC (...equal-opportunity offender.)
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To: SJackson

Best part is, he won’t even need to propose giving the survivors their own homeland, any more than he’d have to propose a homeland for Druze or Samaritans in Israel, and that way he won’t be a hypocrite.


56 posted on 08/14/2014 12:28:31 AM PDT by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
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To: tacticalogic

We’re not there yet, unfortunately...


57 posted on 08/16/2014 10:31:52 PM PDT by Netz
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To: VerySadAmerican
Obama ran for president because he wants to destroy the U.S.

He's doing a darn fine job and at a rapid rate at that. I thought Carter was the worst but we should never be surprised when someone even worse super cedes the worst.

58 posted on 08/16/2014 10:33:29 PM PDT by Netz
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