Updated: November 7, 2014, 3:13 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is authorizing the U.S. military to deploy up to 1,500 more troops to Iraq as part of the mission to combat the Islamic State group.
Obama is also asking Congress for more than $5 billion to help fund the fight.
The White House says the troops won’t serve in a combat role, but will train, advise and assist Iraqi military and Kurdish forces fighting IS.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest says Obama has also authorized the additional personnel to operate at Iraqi military facilities outside Baghdad and Erbil. Until now, U.S. troops have been operating a joint operation center setup with Iraqi forces there.
The announcement is part of a $5.6 billion funding request to Congress and came just after Obama met with congressional leaders Friday.
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Republican response: Yes on the troops.
No on the funding – just take it out of the waste, fraud, and inefficiencies you’ve enabled with your lawless administration.
Obama is every bit the nightmare that is dubya and dick. The planet, & WE the PEOPLE do not deserve the existence of them. These are the worst humanity has to offer, and he / they are the president! The country has fallen so far that I no longer recognize it as once being a decent place to live.
Since Bush spent $20 billion training and equipping the Iraqi military that turned and ran from Mosul, the Iraqis ought to pay.
The Bootless War, Chapter 4.
Am I the only person who thinks that this makes Obama look weak and fickle? Like he’s doing this just because he took such a big hit in the election three days earlier.