Inserting small groups of U.S. commandos into the fight against the Islamic State would require a larger American ground force than many would expect, says a congressman who is also a former Navy SEAL.
Deploying any troops in the Middle East will require a large U.S. footprint, including medical personnel and equipment to evacuate injured troops, Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montana Republican, said Sunday.
“They’re going to be up front, they need to have right equipment, right training, right rules of engagement,” Mr. Zinke said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Despite that, Mr. Zinke said air operations alone will not defeat the Islamic State, which has captured about one-third of Iraq and Syria, and that ground troops will be needed.
“I’ve been to a lot of funerals, I understand the consequences of war, but when you go to war you go to war to win decisively,” said Mr. Zinke, who served as a Navy SEAL from 1985 to 2008.
The Obama administration last week sent a new war authorization to Congress that would limit U.S. boots on the ground to specific roles, like rescue operations or special operations units. Some Republicans think it does not go far enough, and have urged the president to take more responsibility and exercise flexibility in his military options to defeat the Islamic State.
Lawmakers have said they will hold hearings over several weeks or even months to debate and amend the authorization.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who served as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said action is needed now and that this lengthy process could have been avoided if President Obama had worked with lawmakers in both parties ahead of releasing the authorization and sent language that would “have passed in a week.”
“This is I think the hallmark of this presidency, he refuses to believe he needs to engage members of Congress in either party,” Mr. Rogers said Sunday on “State of the Union.”
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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