Clinton appears to rule out US ground forces to fight the Islamic State

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/05/clinton-appears-to-rule-out-us-ground-forces-to-fight-the-islamic-state

May 24, 2015 1:15 am By Robert Spencer 26 Comments

“But at the end of the thought process that I engage in … this has to be fought by and won by the Iraqis.” This assumes that the problem of the Islamic State is one that only involves Iraqis, and is simply a question of who should govern Iraq. Hillary is completely ignoring the fact that the Islamic State considers itself to be at war with the U.S. and the West, and has vowed to sow mayhem in the streets of this country.

Ground troops in Iraq would be disastrous and self-defeating if they became another Wilsonian nation-building exercise draining this nation’s resources. But the Islamic State will not be beaten without them. Destroying it and getting out would set the global jihad back considerably. But it looks as if under our next President, the caliphate will continue to grow, and to plot to murder as many Americans as possible.

“Clinton appears to rule out return of ground forces in Iraq,” by Ken Thomas, Associated Press, May 22, 2015:

HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she sees “no role whatsoever” for U.S. ground forces in Iraq despite setbacks in the struggle against Islamic State militants.
The existing U.S. policy of providing air support, intelligence, surveillance and training is the right one, Clinton said, in comments that appeared more definitive than her past statements about how the Iraqis themselves must carry the fight.
She addressed the matter after visiting Smuttynose Brewery, where she spoke in defense of the Export-Import Bank, a little-known U.S. agency that guarantees loans to help U.S. exporters and is opposed by some Republicans. Clinton was on her second visit to New Hampshire since opening her campaign for the Democratic nomination.
Islamic State group advances have intensified questions about whether the U.S. should be doing more in the country it invaded in 2003, setting off a years-long war that President Barack Obama drew down by phasing out American combat operations. Clinton supported the invasion as a senator, a decision she later called a mistake.
On Friday, she said the U.S. should stay its course, not expand it.
“American air support is available, American intelligence and surveillance is available, American trainers are trying to undo the damage that was done to the Iraqi army by former Prime Minister Maliki, who bears a very big part of the responsibility for what is happening inside Iraq today,” she said.
“But at the end of the thought process that I engage in … this has to be fought by and won by the Iraqis. There is no role whatsoever for American soldiers on the ground to go back other than in the capacity as trainers and advisers.”…