The Vast Majority of Americans Believe We'll Use Combat Troops in Iraq. Of Course They Do.

Defense.gov

The vast majority of Americans—some 72 percent, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll conducted in late September—say they believe that the United States will end up using ground troops to combat ISIS in Iraq. 

In other words, they don't believe the multiple explicit promises that President Obama has made to the contrary since he first announced the start of this conflict in August. 

When Obama says things like, "as Commander-in-Chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq," most people aren't buying it. 

Why would they? The mission has already expanded far beyond the narrow boundaries that Obama explained when he made his first speech in August; what was once a series of limited strikes to support a humanitarian crusade on a single mountain is now a multi-year effort to wage war against an enemy in two different countries. The administration keeps insisting that this war involving hundreds of airstrikes is somehow not a combat mission. And the official legal justification for the engagement is dubious at best and likely illegal. 

And, oh yeah, we're shipping an infantry division over to Iraq. Next month, the 1st Infantry Division is setting up headquarters in Iraq as part of the military operation against ISIS. According to the Army Times, it will be the first division headquarters to go to Iraq since the U.S. withdrawal in 2011.

So of course most Americans don't believe America's promises on ground troops in Iraq. He's given them no reason to. 

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

If Obama promises we will not use ground troops in Iraq then the public can take that to the bank that we will definitely be using ground troops in Iraq.

[Almanian!]

We have always planned to use ground troops in Iraq, while never planning to use ground troops in Iraq.

Why is this so difficult for people to comprehend?

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

Something, something... East Asia

[Pro Libertate]

He's not a man of action, so I guess lies do become him.

[Doctor Whom]

Schr?dinger's Cat for President! He will and won't send ground troops to Iraq.

[antisocial-ist]

The boots are both on and not on the ground until he reads the newspaper.

[The Original Jason]

Schr?dinger's Ground Troops?

We don't know if they're on the ground or not until we open the box and the system collapses into one of those states.

[John]

In other news, vast majority of Americans smarter than your typical Dem operative journalist. Who could have seen that coming?

[Lyle]

Thank God for the American people. Our politicians and journalists are shit liars.

[Doctor Whom]

An acquaintance recently told me that Obama won't send troops in because he gave a speech disavowing neoconservatism. This is the level at which Obots actually reason.

[perlhaqr]

I dunno if it's "smarter", but even really dumb animals can learn from repetition.

[Bardas Phocas]

Americans lack of faith is disturbing - and Racist.

[albo]

1. The Koresan Group is new and not just Al Qaeda in other garb, because we want you to think we beat Al Qaeda years ago.

2. No American boots on the ground.

3. The CIA messed up by not identifying ISIS earlier, not Obama

4. The check is in the mail.

5. No, I'll just pull out and jizz on this spooge rag here.

[antisocial-ist]

The three biggest lies according to David Allan Coe.

1. This will only hurt for a little while.

2.I'll only put the head of it in.

3. I promise that I won't try to cum in your mouth.

[FUQ]

My wife is a medic in the army and she and her friends laugh every time someone says something about no boots on the ground. We already have boots on the ground.

[The Original Jason]

Just like we didn't have troops in Vietnam from 1946 to 1954?

[CatoTheElder]

Why is the headline in future tense? The US government already had troops and mercenaries in Iraq.

[Pro Libertate]

Those aren't boot-boots. More sneakers.

[Lyle]

The American people are full of common sense. Of course we will have to put boots on the ground to eliminate the Islamic State. We already have boots back on the ground in Iraq.

[The Late P Brooks]

The majority of Americans are obviously racist unbelievers.