OK as one uninitiate in the military I admit I’m unclear of the difference. General Austin wnats to send a contingent of Special Operations forces, size unknown, to advise and assist Iraqi army units in fighting the militants. Obama is sending another 475 soldiers to avise and assist Iraqi and ethnic Kurdish forces, some of which will be with Iraqi Security Forces at the command level. Sounds to me that both are proposing the same thing. Is the difference in the numbers? Or that the troops General Austin wants to send may wind up in combat while the troops Obama wants to send won’t be?
Sorry, any military advice that includes the word “modest” is poor military advice.