Both McCain, the chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Graham, one of its members, sharply criticised current US strategy as insufficient and unsuccessful in defeating the jihadists.
That strategy has consisted of carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria in support of local ground forces, which have also received weapons and training.
"That would not be hard for Egypt; it would be hard for Saudis, it would be hard for some of the smaller countries," but Turkey could also provide forces, McCain said.
Saudi Arabia is already involved in a war in Yemen, while Egypt is battling an insurgency and Turkey is more concerned with Kurdish rebels than IS.
The force would also include some 10,000 American soldiers "providing capability the Arabs don't possess," said Graham, adding: "When's the last time an Arab army's manoeuvered?"
The two senators also called for the number of American forces in Iraq to be increased to around 10,000.
That figure would include special forces to conduct "more of the raids you saw not long ago," Graham said.
American special forces accompanied Kurdish troops on an operation in Iraq last month during which one US soldier was killed.
"This is different than the last two wars," said Graham, referring to the 14-year war in Afghanistan and the nearly nine-year conflict in Iraq, during which the group that became IS was founded.
"This time (it would) be a large regional army with a small Western component. The last two wars have been large Western components with a very small regional force," he said.
But even if this force were formed and defeated IS, it would then have to occupy part of Syria, spelling another potentially lengthy deployment of American ground troops in the Middle East.
"In my construct, it'd be an international holding force, Sunni Arabs would be holding that part of Syria where they're welcomed," after it was cleared of IS, Graham said.
But "the bottom line is, the whole international community would have to be part of holding," he said.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
29/11/15
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Report says 50 US troops in Syria to aid Kurdish fighters
US Promises Ground Deployment to Syria 'Very Soon'
US Prepared to 'Do More on Ground' Against ISIL - (Carter)
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US senators call for 20,000 troops in Syria and Iraq...
ReplyDeletewo senior U.S. senators called on Sunday for Washington to nearly triple military force levels in Iraq to 10,000 and send an equal number of troops to Syria as part of a multinational ground force to counter Islamic State in both countries.
Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham criticised President Barack Obama's incremental Islamic State strategy, which relies on airstrikes and modest support to local ground forces in Iraq and Syria, and said the need for greater U.S. involvement was underlined by this month's Paris attacks..............http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-senators-call-for-20-0/2304504.html
Two U.S. Senators Sunday said the United States should be part of a multinational force in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State (IS/ISIS/ISIL) and pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad out of power....
ReplyDeleteThe comments follow an essay by a U.S. foreign policy scholar arguing the need for up to 50,000 U.S. troops, initially, to confront the IS group and create a safe zone for Syrian refugees.
Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, both Republicans, told U.S. television from Baghdad Sunday the U.S. must take part in a multinational force that McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said will have two key objectives.
"First, you have to, obviously, take out ISIS but, at the same time, you have to establish a no-fly zone that sends a message to Bashar al-Assad that he can stop barrel-bombing and slaughtering innocent men, women and children and driving millions into refugee status, which we are trying to cope with now," said McCain.............http://www.voanews.com/content/us-senators-call-for-multinational-force-in-syria/3080175.html
30/11/15