Defense Sec. Carter, Gen. Dempsey Update Congress on ISIS, Sequestration Cuts
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DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Hurt (WASHINGTON) — During a second day of Department of Defense budget hearings, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Gen. Martin Dempsey took questions on the situation in Iraq and Iran’s role in the Tikrit offensive.
Both said on Wednesday they want to ensure that Iraq’s government gets the message that there can’t be a return to the sectarianism that led to ISIS’s resurgence.
“Sectarianism is one of the things that concerns me very much,” said Carter. “And of course, it’s the root of the Iranian presence in Iraq.” Carter said the hope is that an inclusive Iraqi government will promote stability and “the fastest route to the defeat of ISIL.”
House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-NJ, sounded skeptical, cautioning, “Hope is not a plan.”
With regards to the AUMF, Carter explained that its three-year duration is due to the political cycle and was not a military requirement.
“I think it has to do with the political calendar in our country,” said Carter. “I wouldn’t assure anyone that this will be over in three years or that the campaign will be completed in three years. The three years comes from the fact that there’ll be a presidential election in two years and so forth, and I respect that. That’s not a military or a defense consideration, but I respect it as a constitutional consideration.”
Both Carter and Dempsey repeated the line that they’ll recommend potential changes to the ISIS strategy if it’s needed down the road, which could include the addition of U.S. ground troops.
“If the commander on the ground approaches either me or the secretary of defense and believes that the introduction of special operations forces to accompany Iraqis or the new Syrian forces, or JTACS, these skilled folks who can call in close air support, if we believe that’s necessary to achieve our objectives, we will make that recommendation,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey added those possibilities are allowed by the AUMF request.
When contacted for comment on if the U.S. might someday consider sending some U.S. troops to Syria, his spokesman said Dempsey was speaking about a hypothetical and that “there is no consideration of sending U.S. troops into Syria beyond personnel recovery/combat rescue forces if necessary as the air campaign continues. ”
Dempsey noted the presence of Iranians in the Tikrit offensive and that it’s being watched carefully. He said Sunni politicians in Baghdad and Tikrit support the offensive because it’s targeting ISIS, but “if this becomes an excuse to ethnic cleanse then our campaign has a problem and we’re going to have to adjust our campaign.”
Since it was a budget hearing, Carter urged Congress to prevent another round of mandated sequestration cuts that would kick in later this year. If the cuts continue over the next few years he warned they would change the size and shape of the military but would also significantly affect the ability to carry out the national defense strategy.
“We cannot meet sequester with further half-measures,” said Carter.
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