Leaders of Iraq's Anbar Province Call For U.S. Ground Forces To Stop ISIS -- CNN
Baghdad (CNN) -- ISIS fighters stood Saturday on the verge of taking not just a key Syrian town along the Turkish border, but also an entire province on Baghdad's doorstep -- spurring leaders of that province to urgently plead for U.S. ground troops to halt the Islamist extremist group's rapid, relentless assault.
The situation in Anbar, just to the west of Baghdad, is "very bad," said Sabah Al-Karhout, the president of Anbar Provincial Council.
ISIS, the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" which also is referred to as ISIL, controls about 80% of the province. Reports Saturday suggest they have encircled Haditha, the last large town in Anbar province not yet in the militants' hands.
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More News On Iraq Requesting U.S. Ground Troops In Their War Against The Islamic State
Iraq asks for US ground troops as Isil threaten Baghdad -- The Telegraph
Iraq pleads for U.S. ground troops as Islamic State closes in on Baghdad -- Washington Times
Key Iraqi province appeals for U.S. help to halt ISIL -- USA Today
Key Iraqi region pleads for US ground troops -- The Hill
Iraq's Anbar appeals for help against Islamic State -- BBC
Iraqi plea for US troops as Islamic State advances in key province -- Sydney Morning Herald
My Comment: Committing U.S. combat troops to assist Iraq is President Obama's big decision in the coming weeks .... but committing U.S. combat troops in the battle against the Islamic State would be a massive reversal of everything that he has stood for in the past decade. U.S. combat troops on the ground .... after having hailed the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2011 .... would be an admission by President Obama that he was wrong .... a prospect that I am sure that he is not even contemplating. But U.S. Congressional elections are only a few weeks away .... and I am sure that the Islamic State is now looking at the political ramifications on the U.S. political scene if they should launch a massive attack on Baghdad a week or so before the elections .... maybe even planning the timing to coincide with this election cycle (I know I would). Video images of the Green Zone being bombed and American personnel being evacuated from the U.S. embassy by helicopter would be devastating for Democrats running for re-election .... and in the event that the Sunni part of Baghdad should fall to IS forces .... devastating to President Obama's legacy. In my opinion there has been not enough coverage on what are the political ramifications for such a defeat .... in fact .... I have seen none in the U.S. press so far but one that I am sure will be discussed in the weeks to come.
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