Yes, "Boots on the ground."

[another_liberal]

The Pentagon isn't admitting anything yet it seems clear our three thousand or so ground troops already in Iraq are indeed taking a hand in direct combat with Islamic State fighters. Once again we seem doomed to be the army as well as airforce for our sometimes allies in Baghdad. Meanwhile, Americans are seeing the pensions they have worked for all their lives cut by as much as a third, because Congress won't fully fund the program that secures those pensions. War means more!

(Reuters)


US servicemen in first ground battle with ISIS – Kurdish media


American forces were involved in their first ground battle with Islamic State fighters, according to Kurdish media outlet Shafaq News, near the Ain Al-Assad base in the Anbar province of Iraq early Sunday. The report could not be independently verified. US forces allegedly came to the aid of tribal fighters and the Iraqi Army battling Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) militants in the Al-Dolab area, 10 km (6.2 miles) from the Ain Al-Assad base, which is about 90 km (56 miles) west of Anbar’s capital, Ramadi.

"US forces intervened because … ISIS started to come near the base, which they are stationed in so out of self-defense, they responded,” said Sheikh Mahmud Nimrawi, a tribal leader in the area, according to Shafaq. The base hosts about 100 US military advisers, the report claimed.

An Iraqi Army field commander in Anbar said that "the US force equipped with light and medium weapons, supported by fighter force model F-18" was able to hit Islamic State targets, forcing them to retreat from Al-Dolab. The clash with Islamic forces lasted for more than two hours, as American jets also hit several Islamic State fighters, according to Colonel Salam Nazim.

"We have made progress in Al-Dolab area, in which ISIS has withdrawn from to the villages beyond, after the battles which involved a private American force” that surprised Islamic State fighters, tribal leader Sheikh Mahmud Nimrawi said. The American forces returned to Ain Al-Assad base after the mission, according to Nimrawi, who added that the "US promised to provide tribal fighters who are in that region exclusively with weapons.” The Pentagon has not released information on any American involvement in ground fighting with Islamic State. Since announcing US-led-coalition airstrikes against Islamic State in August, US President Barack Obama has repeatedly stated that he would not commit troops to another ground war in Iraq. Yet the Pentagon’s top brass have since said that the option remains on the table.

(snip)

Read more at: http://rt.com/usa/215323-americans-ground-battle-isis/

[brooklynite]

1. Well, if RT says that Kurdish media says it happened.....

[another_liberal]

2. Take it for what you will . . .

You can bet the NYT won't cover the story until our government says it's OK.

[another_liberal]

3. This may be the only American media carrying it . . .

Also references the Kurdish source:

http://dcgazette.com/it-begins-u-s-ground-troops-fight-first-battle-with-isis-militants-attack-american-base/

[Javaman]

4. As I have been saying for a very long time...

we are never leaving.

[another_liberal]

7. We may leave, eventually . . .

But it is now pretty certain that when we do it will look just like Saigon, 1975.

[Bandit]

5. after the battles which involved a private American force”

What exactly does that mean. Is Blackwater back in Iraq?

[another_liberal]

6. Except they now call themselves "Academi" . . .

And yes, they are still actively recruiting more mercenaries:

https://www.academi.com/pages/careers

[GGJohn]

8. Intervened because ISIS was getting close their position.

But are they going out with the Kurdish and Iraqi forces to battle ISIS?

[another_liberal]

9. You honestly doubt it?

Honestly?

[GGJohn]

10. I honestly don't know,

we're not kept informed beyond vague statements.

[another_liberal]

11. Maybe I've caught them lying to me more than you have . . .

Too much of that and one becomes cynical. I've come to assume they will lie to us whenever it serves their purposes and they can easily get away with it. The front against I.S. fits both required conditions.

I have little doubt our Special Forces types are leading and participating in every important action conducted by Iraqi or Kurdish forces.