The War On ISIL:Building Ground Forces in Iraq

The ground campaign in Iraq is a work in progress,US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told the House Armed Services Committee on 17 June 2015.We can and will continue to develop local services;US troops on the ground will not produce enduring results.
What we saw in Ramadi was deeply disappointing.While we have the right strategic framework,execution can and will be strengthened.Our equipping of the Iraqi Security Forces has been proceeding too slowly.That's why we're now expediting delivery of anti-tank and anti-IED weapons to the ISF.
Taqaddum Air Base is a key location for reaching Sunni tribes.We will also provide advice and support at the ISF's Anbar Operations Center,which is also in Taqaddum.We've only received enough recruits to train about 7,000 troops,plus 2,000 counter-terrorism troops.The ISF have been plagued by persistent organisation and leadership failures.Our efforts must fuel diversity and multi-sectarianism.
The move into Taqaddum,the numbers,are not as important as the location in the Sunni heartland.We are in the Anbar Operations Center with the ISF so we can advise and assist them.We're already getting an inflow of Sunni fighters.We had unused training capacity because the Iraqi government wasn't providing paid recruits.It's starting to turn around.*
The heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council went to Camp David about three weeks ago.Their concern about ISIL is genuine,but their actions have been lacking.It is because they simply lack the capacity such as Special Operations Forces;capable,skilled ground forces in counter-insurgency;and so forth.*
We have in Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi someone who I believe is committed to a multi-sectarian,federated state.We are arming the Kurds and Sunnis,coordinating it with the Iraqi government in a way that doesn't delay as it did before.We're back on our feet,but I'm not going to excuse things that shouldn't have happened.I believe there can be a decentralised,multi-sectarian Iraq.I think we should give them a chance,because that's our best hope.*
The Kurdish forces are what we aspire to do.They show the will and capability to fight.Committed,capable,they're effective in the larger campaign to defeat ISIL.I met with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani,and we went over the list of equipment they need.The reason of doing the angle through the government of Iraq is,to foster unity.These guys really do fight.The equipment from the US,Europe and others is starting to get to them.
The ISF record of performance is mixed.The counter-terrorist forces have fought admirably,and almost to exhaustion for the past months.We're extremely committed to providing intelligence and advisors.
As to US troops increasing their involvement,once we have the Iraqi forces on the ground,we will have to take another look at how to support those forces,and also our allies.When there is a capable ground force,then we can leverage them,Mr.Carter informed the House Armed Services Committee.

Pentagon Announces Training of Moderate Syrian Forces To Fight ISIL

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter spoke to reporters at the Pentagon last Tuesday,5 May,along with outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey,US Army.Mr.Carter highlighted a number of important issues on the Pentagon's agenda,but especially the new program to train a force of ultimately 15,000 moderate Syrian rebels to engage ISIL in ground combat.
1.Earlier today we met with Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani about the fight with ISIL.We reaffirmed our commitment to working together by,with and through the Iraqi government to deliver a lasting defeat to ISIL.We believe a unified Iraq is critical to this.
2.We have begun training a company-size group from moderate Syrian forces,to be followed by a second group in the next few weeks.
3.Given that the current defence budget is a road to nowhere,we need Congress to agree to a multi-year budget.We are eroding our tech edge and our military readiness is declining.Our adversaries are paying attention,too;they are watching us lurch from continuing resolution to continuing resolution,and they are adapting.
4.We commend the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations and the Trade Promotion Authority bill as strengthening the US and the Asia-Pacific region.
5.We have a lot of work to do in the months ahead.I want to thank General Dempsey for his stong leadership and thoughtful advice.He has made our world safer.I'll really miss him and Vice Chairman Admiral James Winnefeld,US Navy.I have absolute and complete confidence in their sucessors,General Joseph Dunford,US Marine Corps,as Chaiman,and General Paul Selva,US Air Force,as Vice Chairman.*
On the topic of the struggle with ISIL for control of Iraq's Beiji oil refinery,General Dempsey said it's a part of Iraq's critical infrastructure.It's geographically significant.The Iraqis have lost some of the perimeter and some of the road network that leads to it,but just recently the Iraqis configured 18 of the 18 pallets needed to resupply their troops in the refinery by air.*
As to the training of the moderate Syrian rebel forces,Mr.Carter explained that there are about 90 of the trainees in a company-sized tranche.It takes place in a secure location.Our people are very experienced in this type of training.There are several locations,and we'd rather not talk about them.The first disposition of those forces will be decided on by them and us in a few months.Of course we would have some responsibility to protect those forces.We definitely would work to protect them with intelligence,search and rescue,and potentially with air help.We definitely would have some responsibility for their safety as well as their training.
This is a complex program that will have to evolve over time.We're figuring out what the best training is and disposition of the forces is;but you have to start somewhere,and this is where we're starting.There's a limit to the kind of arms this type of force will get.The training is starting now.These trainees are recruited and vetted,and only then are they put into training.These forces are being trained and equipped to fight ISIL.It's not part of our program to have them engage with Assad's forces.ISIL would be their principal mission.We have not determined yet all the rules of engagement.
These Syrian rebel forces do receive some compensation.An explicit part of their training is how to conduct themselves in accordance with international law.ISIL has taken over and mistreated the places from which they came.They have a commitment to the country of Syria as a whole and the place from which they came.
I think we have to take the domestic ISIL threat seriously.It's concerning;it's yet another reason why the defeat of ISIL is so important in Syria and Iraq-that they have the capability to inspire such individuals,Defense Secretary Ashton Carter pointed out to reporters at the Pentagon briefing.