Hagel Acknowledges Long Fight Ahead Against Islamic State
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Junko Kimura/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee Thursday that the U.S.-led coalition effort in Iraq to defeat Islamic State militants will be “a long and difficult struggle.”
Hagel, who refers to the Sunni extremist group as ISIL as does the rest of the Obama administration, maintained that while progress has been made since August, the campaign is only “three months into a multi-year effort.”
According to the defense chief, the group’s advance has been stalled and at times reversed in some regions through the efforts of coalition air power along with ground troops made up of Iraqi, Kurdish and tribal forces.
However, Hagel conceded that the Islamic State remains a “serious threat” to American interests.
Last week, President Obama announced the deployment of an additional 1,500 U.S. troops to act in training and advisory roles. The White House is insistent that American soldiers will not lead the fight against the Islamic State.
Yet, House Armed Services chair Buck McKeon suggested that this policy won’t be effective in defeating the group.
The California Republican asked, “How can you successfully execute the mission you’ve been given — to ‘degrade and ultimately destroy’ ISIL — when some of your best options are taken off the table?”
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would not commit to putting American boots on the ground but did say there has been at least some consideration regarding accompanying Iraqi units in their battle against the Islamic State.
The appearance by Hagel and Dempsey was also to ask Congress for $5.6 billion in extra military funding for fighting ISIS in 2015 and a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force.
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