Obama reaffirms opposition to U.S. combat in Iraq

By Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 | 9:34 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. — President Barack Obama reaffirmed Wednesday that he does not intend to send U.S. troops into combat against the Islamic State group, despite doubts about the ability of Iraqi forces, Kurdish fighters and Syrian rebels to carry out the ground fight on their own.

"The American forces do not and will not have a combat mission," Obama told troops at MacDill Air Force Base.

It was a firm response to suggestions raised Tuesday by his top military commander that under certain circumstances, American ground forces may be needed.

Obama said U.S. troops "will support Iraqi forces on the ground as they fight for their own country against these terrorists."

But, he added, "As your commander in chief, I will not commit you and the rest of our armed forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq."

Obama offered a vision of a potent force that can have a major role in conflicts, a more forceful view than he has embraced before. But he still stressed that for the effort to succeed against the Islamic State group, the U.S. will need to lead the international coalition and local forces must handle a significant role.

"Frankly, there just aren't a lot of other folks who can perform in the same way. In fact, there are none. There are some things only we can do. There are some capabilities only we have," he said.

"Our armed forces are unparalleled and unique. So when we've got a big problem somewhere around the world, it falls on our shoulders. Sometimes that's tough. But that's what sets us apart. That's why we're American."

Obama spoke after consulting with officers at U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military efforts in the Middle East.

Obama's speech to troops at MacDill Air Force Base was one more chance to try to make the case for the airstrike campaign against the militant group.

His meeting Gen. Lloyd Austin, the Central Command head, and other officers took place as Congress prepared to vote on Obama's request for authority to equip and train Syrian opposition fighters.

Lawmakers in both parties have raised worries that the U.S. might be unable to find enough Syrian rebels who could be trusted to confront the Islamic State group or that their numbers would be sufficient.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a small group of reporters traveling with him to Paris that about half of Iraq's army is incapable of being an effective partner with the U.S. to push the Islamic State group back in western and northern Iraq. He said the other half needs to be partially rebuilt with U.S. training and additional equipment.

Dempsey told senators on Tuesday that if it became necessary for U.S. military advisers to accompany Iraqi troops into combat, he might "go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of ground forces."

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns in Paris and contributed to this report.