![\"last](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/last-convoy-out-of-Iraq.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nOur buddy, Kristina Wong at The Hill<\/a> reports that the Pentagon is sending another 615 US troops to Iraq to augment the 4700 troops already there.<\/p>\n “At the request of myself and [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford], and with the support and approval of [Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi], President Obama has authorized approximately 600 additional U.S. troops to further enable Iraqi forces,” [Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement]. <\/p>\n The current number of U.S. troops officially authorized for Iraq is 4,647. The additional forces would bring that number to 5,262. There are at least hundreds more who are deployed temporarily that aren’t part of that official count. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n In April<\/a>, the Pentagon sent two packages of 200 and 250 more troops to Iraq. In July<\/a>, they sent 560 troops. In June 2014<\/a>, he said wasn’t sending US combat troops to Iraq. Also in June 2014<\/a>, then-Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, currently spokesman for the State department said \u201cThis is not a combat mission, they are not being sent to participate in combat,\u201d of the first 300 to deploy during that iteration. Just in the last few months, another 1600 were added. Just for Mosul.<\/p>\n It would help if there was a strategy beyond looking like we’re not at war.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"