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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCamel's nose under tent: Obama 'Would Order' US Troops Into Combat If ISIS Got Nuclear Weapon
But for the first time since the start of then anti-ISIS offensive dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve, the president volunteered a scenario which he said would change his mind.
“If we discovered that [ISIS] had gotten possession of a nuclear weapon, and we had to run an operation to get it out of their hands, then, yes,” the president told reporters at a news conference in Brisbane, Australia, on Sunday. “I would order it.”
There is no indication that ISIS currently possesses or could easily obtain a nuclear weapon, officials say.
Still, Obama’s declaration of a nuclear weapon in the hands of ISIS is a noteworthy new “red line” – and a very high bar for a U.S. offensive role on the ground.
* * *
Last week, Dempsey testified on Capitol Hill that the Pentagon is “certainly considering” whether to embed U.S. military advisers with Iraqi combat units deployed to the front lines. Obama has also maintained openness to the idea, but already rejected one recommendation to do so.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-order-us-troops-combat-isis-nuclear-weapon/story?id=26976710
Of course this hypothetical offered by the President is absurd and would never happen. And that is what should raise eyebrows. He didn't have to offer such an hyperbolic example, unless it was offered to prep the field. Dempsey is clearly heading towards recommending combat troops on the ground. Hagel is not far behind. Obama will undoubtedly follow his chief advisers.
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Response to morningfog (Original post)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)Attack before they use it?
morningfog
(18,115 posts)Next, it will be "Ground combat troops would deployed if IS get a hold of chemical weapons." Like those in Syria.
And, "Ground combat troops would be deployed if there was a threat of genocide" like there was in Iraq this summer.
And then finally, "ground combat troops are going to be deployed, but only in a small number."
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)I don't think it's helpful unless the plan is to telegraph or foreshadow something already scripted by Cheney's buddies.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Have we checked to see if ISIS has purchased any aluminum tubes lately? 
morningfog
(18,115 posts)People into another ground war.
Response to arcane1 (Reply #7)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)
Bandit
(21,475 posts)I would hesitate to say this scenario could Never happen..
Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)Everything else is a CIA fairy tale.
Get with the program.
Response to Ykcutnek (Reply #13)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts) morningfog
(18,115 posts)Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)He's saying it would take something major to order troops into combat.
But don't let that get in the way of a good outrage.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)It was not "ridiculous on purpose." You are lending the President a helping hand, but it only gets you so far.
He didn't say this in a vacuum. Dempsey is very close to making his recommendation for combat troops on the ground in Iraq.
US troops, currently labeled "advisers," have already entered combat zones. The President has already approved over 3,000 troops on the ground in Iraq. Despite all of that, IS has been holding and advancing in Syria and Iraq. The Iraqi army can't handle the job and can't be trained quickly enough. Dempsey will make the pitch soon. Hagel has already tipped his hand that the request is coming and that he will consider it. Obama will not go against the joint chief of staff and his secretary of defense.
His reason for saying was not that it is so ridiculous it is never going to happen. He didn't say "anything short of IS getting a nuke will do it." Rather, he opened the door that he has insisted is closed. And he referenced something that never happen. Everyone hears it and says, "oh, of course! I should hope he would deploy troops in that case!" And when the actual reason is that the Iraq army can't reclaim a city from IS alone and the region is under threat and American interests are at risk, etc..., everyone will shrug. It will have been old news. We've been prepped.
Just like the initial re-entry of the Iraq/Syria war was to stop a genocide (who could be against that!) but has steadily and predictably crept into a war crossing two nations costing billions upon billions of dollars with no end in sight.
dilby
(2,273 posts)is a shortage of Nuclear weapons for sale on the Open Market and since OBL could not get one off the black market before he took a bullet to the head I highly doubt they are being sold there either.
bobduca
(1,763 posts)
TBF
(32,090 posts)even Cheney provided us with a show to watch. Here we go again ...
scarystuffyo
(733 posts)
egduj
(805 posts)Autumn
(45,120 posts)morningfog
(18,115 posts)Autumn
(45,120 posts)something other than fear.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)The corporate power must be huge in this area. We keep getting sucked back into the quagmire. Make arms, sell arms, kill other, people, kill our own people.
