Obama’s ‘Boots on the Ground’: U.S. Special Forces Are Sent to Tackle Global Threats
by The New York Times
SWJ Blog Post | December 27, 2015 - 9:59pm
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Obama’s ‘Boots on the Ground’: U.S. Special Forces Are Sent to Tackle Global Threats by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt, New York Times
They are taking on a larger combat role in Afghanistan, where the war was supposed to be over. They are headed to Syria to help fight the Islamic State in its stronghold. And President Obama recently ordered nearly 300 of them to Cameroon to assist African troops in their battle against a militant group that has pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.
With the Middle East in tumult, radical groups holding swaths of territory in Africa, and a presidential campaign fanning fears of a growing terrorism threat, the White House has steadily expanded the global missions of American Special Operations troops.
Even as Mr. Obama has repeatedly said that he opposes American “boots on the ground” in far-flung parts of the world, his administration continues to carve out exceptions for Special Operations forces — with American officials often resorting to linguistic contortions to mask the forces’ combat role.
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