Deterring the Changing Threats

We need to update our deterrence and response model to Russia's hybrid threat,said General Joseph Dunford,USMC,before the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing last month.I think rotational forces are envisioned,along with prepositioning equipment and infrastructure.Quite frankly,I think that kind of threat is one we're going to face in the future-the idea of deterrence to the changing threats we face.
Russia is not just threatening;they are actually doing it.My assessment today is that Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security.It is a nuclear power that could pose an existential threat to the United States,and their recent acts are nothing short of alarming.I also think it's important to maintain a military-to-military relationship with them to prevent the chance of miscalculation.
Russia is aggressively moving military forces into the Arctic-we need a plan,noted Senator Dan Sullivan,R-Arkansas.
We will in fact develop an appropriate role for the military in support of our political and military goals for the Arctic,General Dunford promised.
Modernising our nuclear deterrence is the nation's top military priority.I think we need to think about how we are going to fund it,as opposed to whether we are going to do it,in that we face a nation that is an existential threat.The Ohio-class submarine is the most survivable part of the nuclear deterrence triad,and critical to modernise.*
With regard to Iran's current activities and support of activities,Iran is one of he most destabilising influences in the region today.They're exacerbating the Sunni-Shia divide.From my perspective,they have provided support to the Taliban in Afghanistan versus ISIL.The Shia militants in Iraq could be a malign influence and certainly we shouldn't provide any support to them.My expectation is,Iran will continue the malign activity across the Middle East that we have seen in recent years.My understanding is,we have the military capacity to destroy Iran's nuclear program.I'll make sure that our leadership has a full range of military options for dealing with Iranian military activity.We have both the plans and the capacity in place to deal with a wide range of contingencies in Iran.
Iran with a nuclear weapon would be a significant threat to the homeland,especially with a ballistic missile,and would be destabilising in the region,causing a nuclear arms race.
In Iraq,there's no question in my mind that retaking Ramadi from ISIL is a strategic action.I've got both a personal and professional stake in Anbar Province,having lived there for years.*
China's military capability and presence in the Pacific are an area of concern,as distinct from a threat.There's no question about our rebalance to the Pacific.We have an unprecedented number of exercises in the Pacific.The rebalance is aimed at modernising our presence,explained General Dunford,recently confirmed by the Senate as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.He will be sworn in next month.

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.

New and Hazardous Training Mission for US Troops in Anbar

President Barack Obama has ordered up to 450 more US troops to Iraq.They will train,advise and assist Sunni tribal militia members to battle ISIL at a new training camp in al-Taqaddum Air Base,a former US stronghold in the Iraq War from 2003-11,located at Habbaniya in the largely Sunni Anbar Province.As of last Thursday,8920 Iraqi troops had received US training at the four existing training camps at al-Asad Air Base;Irbil;plus two camps in the Baghdad area;and 2601 Iraqi troops were still in training.Of those who have been trained,800 are Kurds and the rest are Shiites.
Training at al-Taqaddum will likely begin this summer.It is only 22 miles/37 kilometers from Ramadi,the provincial capital recently taken over by ISIL.There are still a lot of engagements with ISIL in the area,so US troops on the training mission will perhaps be closer to the front lines than ever before.ISIL has been using more and bigger IEDs in Anbar Province-so large they are changing the equation on the battlefield.They are also digging extensive tunnels and filling them with explosives.Suicide attacks may be launched against the training camp.
Besides trainers,the US soldiers will be security and logistics personnel.They will still not be allowed to accompany Iraqi troops to the front lines or serve as forward air controllers.
I think it is a Band-Aid on a hemorrhaging strategy,said Senator John McCain,R-Arizona.We need actually thousands of additional troops.*
The 450 new US troops will bring the total number of US forces in Iraq up to about 3600.