Fight against ISIL among top concerns for US troops

By Staff Sgt. Bryan DominiqueFebruary 26, 2015

Fight against ISIL among top concerns for US troops
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter speaks with members of the press after a meeting with senior military leaders and diplomats in Southwest Asia, Feb. 23. Carter called top military brass and ambassadors from across Southwest Asia to discuss the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fight against ISIL among top concerns for US troops
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fight against ISIL among top concerns for US troops
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SOUTHWEST ASIA - U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has been on the job for less than a week, but is already answering tough questions from Soldiers about the way ahead in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or Daesh.

Carter spent his first week traveling the region speaking with Soldiers and meeting with senior military leaders and diplomats.

In what was described as a troop event, Carter conveyed gratitude to a theater full of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and coalition members, saying that when he was confirmed by the Senate he made it known that his first act as secretary was to visit the region and thank each of them for what they do.

However, Soldiers used the short time they had with the secretary to ask tough questions about ISIL and the way ahead for the U.S. led coalition assembled to defeat them.

"What will it take, sir, for you to recommend to the president of the United States U.S. military boots on the ground in a direct combat role against Daesh?" asked Maj. Rich Frank of the Combined Joint Task Force, currently leading the nation's efforts to fight Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

Part of Carter's trip was to help answer that very question, but he answered Frank by saying, "We need to be convinced that any use of our forces is necessary, is going to be sufficient, that we thought through not just the first step, but the second step and the third step."

Carter convened a meeting in Kuwait with the region's most senior military leaders and ambassadors to better understand the dimensions surrounding the fight against Daesh and what it will take to ultimately defeat them.

The meeting was held behind closed doors, but the secretary took about 15 minutes after the summit to speak with the press. He gave no indication he was considering U.S. troops being used in a direct combat role.

Right now current U.S. strategy is to build partner force capabilities on the ground while leveraging U.S. and coalition air power to blunt the terror group's forward momentum.

"It's going to require the building of the capacity of local forces because ultimately they must take the lead and take responsibility, because if we're to have a defeat of ISIL, which we must and will, it must be a lasting defeat," he said. "The way to make it a lasting defeat is to ensure there are those who can take responsibility of their societies and their territories after the campaign against ISIL."

The U.S. military formed Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Oct. 2014 to oversee operations against ISIL inside Iraq and Syria.

More than 20 countries are represented within the CJTF, which is under command of Lt. Gen. James L. Terry.

President Obama has warned against describing the campaign against ISIL as a war against jihadism or radical Islam.

The secretary was asked during his question-and-answer session with Soldiers to describe any efforts being taken to address the characterization of the campaign.

"This requires some reflection on our part," answered the secretary. "I think the president is very sensible to say, 'don't paint with too wide a brush with respect to the world of Islam."