Pentagon chief mulls conditions for combat in Iraq

by Kristina Wong - 02/23/15 6:35 PM ET

New Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday that in order to put U.S. boots on the ground in a direct combat role against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), it would have to be “necessary” and based on a plan that would lead to success.

“I think we need to be convinced that any use of our forces is necessary, is going to be sufficient, that we’ve though through not just the first step, but the second step, and the third step,” Carter told U.S. troops based at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

“I want to make sure we’ve thought everything through and that we have a plan that leads to success,” he said.

Carter visited Kuwait to discuss the effort against ISIS with U.S. and coalition military officials, ahead of an upcoming spring offensive by Iraqi troops to take back Mosul, which was seized by ISIS last June.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Martin Dempsey told lawmakers last fall that he would consider deploying a limited number of U.S. forces to accompany Iraqi troops on complex offensive operations to retake Mosul.

“I’m not predicting at this point that I would recommend that those forces in Mosul and along the border would need to be accompanied by U.S. forces, but we’re certainly considering it,” he said.

Carter said the possibility of troops in combat is “one of the reasons why I’m here today, to talk to…our people who have the most experience in this region and can help me think things through several steps ahead.”

“So that if we do ask you to do something, we’re asking you to do something that’s gonna succeed, and that makes sense, and that — wherein it is necessary for you to take the risks that you’re — you’re taking.

“That’s my responsibility,” he added.

Tags Carter Iraq ISIS Islamic State Military Pentagon Syria