Joint Chiefs of Staff - Page 14

December 20, 2015

Arab nations need to help in fight against ISIS, Dempsey says

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that more Arab participation in the effort is a prerequisite for President Obama's approval of the military campaign plan against the group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

December 20, 2015

Tension in the Ranks: Military leaders press Obama to keep options open for ground troops

While President Obama seeks to take the fight to the Islamic State, he’s got a battle brewing with his own brain trust over whether to leave the door open to committing American troops to combat roles.

December 20, 2015

White House: No ‘combat role,’ but US troops could ‘forward deploy’ with Iraqis

The White House acknowledged Wednesday that President Obama would consider putting U.S. troops in "forward-deployed positions" to advise Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State -- even while insisting U.S. troops would not be sent back into a "combat role" in Iraq.

December 20, 2015

Top general says half of Iraqi army incapable of working with US against ISIS

The U.S. military's top officer said Wednesday that almost half of Iraq's army is incapable of working against the Islamic State militant group, while the other half needs to be rebuilt with the help of U.S. advisers and military equipment.

December 20, 2015

Top military official opens door to ground troops in ISIS fight, despite Obama pledge

A week after President Obama vowed not to get 'dragged into another ground war in Iraq,' his top military leader opened the door to just that.

December 20, 2015

Syria strategy 2.0: Obama to hit reset to counter growing ISIS threat

One year to the day since addressing the American people about possible strikes against the Assad regime in Syria over its chemical weapons attack, President Obama is coming back to the American people with a drastically different -- and strategically complex -- plan to combat a drastically different enemy.

December 20, 2015

What would trigger US strike in Syria? Mixed messages from DOD

U.S. military officials gave varying – and at times confusing -- explanations Monday for what, if anything, would trigger U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, after the Joint Chiefs chairman dialed back earlier comments that suggested support for such a strike.

December 20, 2015

Joint Chiefs chairman says ISIS not a direct threat to US, won't recommend Syria strikes yet

Despite threats to the contrary, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff insisted the Islamic State terror group is a regional threat and said he would not recommend U.S. airstrikes in Syria until he determines that they have become a direct threat to the U.S.

December 20, 2015

Military brass, ex-officials pressure White House to expand ISIS fight to Syria

Top U.S. military brass and former administration officials are publicly pressuring the White House to consider taking the fight against the Islamic State into Syria, warning that the terror organization poses an unprecedented threat to the United States.

December 20, 2015

Dempsey: Iraqi forces can defend Baghdad

The U.S. is not close to launching a military assault against an Iraqi insurgent group, but "may get to that point" if the militants become a threat to the American homeland, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday.