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U.S. sends aircraft to Iraq; Obama weighs mission to save refugees
Los Angeles Times ^ | August 13, 2014 | By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, DAVID S. CLOUD

Posted on 08/13/2014 11:28:49 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Administration officials said Wednesday that President Obama is considering using military helicopters and other aircraft to help rescue thousands of refugees trapped on Mt. Sinjar in northwest Iraq.

Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that V-22 aircraft, which can land and take off like helicopters, were positioned near the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil with a team of 130 Marines and special operations troops who are assessing how to get the refugees out safely.

"The purpose of this team is to assess other options" beyond airdrops of food, water and other supplies to the refugees, he said. "There's no question that speed is of the essence."

He said the president will keep his promise not to return “ground forces into combat” in Iraq. However, he acknowledged that even a humanitarian mission in the area carries risks.

There are now 198 U.S. military personnel in northern Iraq.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: failure; iraq; islamists; obama
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Overseas Contingency Operation.
1 posted on 08/13/2014 11:28:49 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The difference between Obama and almost any other president is that any other president would have seen the refugee problem and acted immediately. Obama is still deciding. People are dying. Perhaps the problem will simply solve itself when everybody is dead.


2 posted on 08/13/2014 11:34:56 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: Gen.Blather
perhaps the problem will solve itself when everyone is dead

It's a huge problem when there are no experienced military leaders who cam assess danger and quickly put together an effective plan. Without that, our military hardware is just sitting there for the crazies to take.

We need a president who's qualified as Commander in Chief. Was Eisenhower the last one who was? (Reagan compensated by having the good sense to have excellent advisors)

3 posted on 08/13/2014 11:40:12 AM PDT by grania
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To: grania

Both Bush’s did a good job as CIC. Take away the MSM condemnation of both of them every single day and they didn’t do too badly.


4 posted on 08/13/2014 11:43:35 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("“Manchuria Called. They want their Candidate Back!”")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Weighs. Considering. Contemplates. The fact that this lazy and ignorant POS pResident has to deliberate for days whether to assist thousands of people who otherwise are dead without it, illustrates how totally indifferent, vile, and evil he truly is; add to the equation that the stupid POS argues that he is not the SOLE CAUSE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION THE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE IN, and there is no question that there is a truly despicable scumbag running this country (and the world) into the ground.


5 posted on 08/13/2014 11:43:46 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Obama is now neck deep in a pile of doo doo his own faculty lounge fools deposited. He cannot come out clean smelling no matter what he does. Community organizing goes only so far when the community you are trying to organize doesn’t want to play.


6 posted on 08/13/2014 11:47:37 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Must had a late Tee Time on the gulf course.


7 posted on 08/13/2014 11:48:39 AM PDT by Busko (One thing is certain, nothing is certain.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz
Both Bushes did a good job as CIC.

Sorry, can't agree. Working to destabilize countries and topple stable governments that protected their minorities did not show a respect for life. They politicized military initiatives for reasons that had nothing to do with protecting the US.

8 posted on 08/13/2014 11:57:53 AM PDT by grania
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Where Would You Go Without FR.......


Click The Pic To Donate

Donate

9 posted on 08/13/2014 12:05:06 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Common Sense 101

Maybe he’s negotiating with Mexico and Honduras to take them in…then they can enter the US very easily.


10 posted on 08/13/2014 12:07:30 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Obama weighs mission to save refugees

"Nah. Screw 'em."

11 posted on 08/13/2014 12:23:33 PM PDT by Dr. Thorne ("Don't be afraid. Just believe." - Mark 5:36)
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To: grania

“They politicized military initiatives for reasons that had nothing to do with protecting the US.”

Sorry, I can’t agree. 911 proved that.


12 posted on 08/13/2014 12:26:10 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Parley Baer

“...V-22 aircraft, which can land and take off like helicopters...”

Osprey? Aren’t those terribly difficult to operate? And we would be trying to land them in mountainous terrain, where they will be mobbed as soon as they get down?

Wouldn’t the old Shinook be much more reliable?


13 posted on 08/13/2014 12:37:47 PM PDT by CondorFlight (I)
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To: Parley Baer
Re: 911. The maniacs were in the US illegally. Wouldn't a better initiative have been to get invaders out of the US and cut down on residency and student visas?

They were all Saudi nationals. Can anyone explain why Saudi Arabia is a friend? And don't say "oil"....it's not a good enough reason to cause global chaos and world domination by a handful of elites.

14 posted on 08/13/2014 12:37:52 PM PDT by grania
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To: grania
topple stable governments that protected their minorities

Tell that to the thousands of Kurds whom Saddam murdered with poison gas.

15 posted on 08/13/2014 12:41:37 PM PDT by what's up
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To: CondorFlight

The V-22’s much better now. It’s bugs are gone.


16 posted on 08/13/2014 12:44:56 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: grania

Why do you think, when al Qaeda had many different nationalities available to chose from, that they chose Saudi Arabians to spearhead that operation? Would there be a reason?


17 posted on 08/13/2014 12:47:22 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: elhombrelibre

I hope you’re correct.
My SIL does some engineering on the power plants.
That thing looks like a mechanical nightmare to me.


18 posted on 08/13/2014 12:47:30 PM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is a very difficult decision for Obama to make... considering he has no spine.


19 posted on 08/13/2014 12:50:40 PM PDT by Marko413
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The perfect aircraft for going after these jihaadis would be the A-10 Warthog.

But I’d bet dollars to donuts they don’t get sent because the Air Force sees a it’s best opportunity in decades to retire them.


20 posted on 08/13/2014 12:53:07 PM PDT by tanknetter
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