Ebola has spread rapidly throughout West Africa since cases started popping up earlier this year. The disease, which as of now has no proven cure, has been responsible for at least 2,100 deaths in the past few months, according to Global Post and The Washington Post. While Ebola is not currently an imminent threat to the health of Americans, the outbreak requires significant global attention. Because of this, President Obama announced on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would be sending U.S. troops to bring aid to affected regions.
Doctors Without Borders, an organization that has been active in addressing the outbreak, was instrumental in requesting military aid, noted The Washington Post. The U.S. military will play a key role in helping DWB increase isolation centers and set up mobile labs. The U.S. Air Force will be transporting patients, health care staff and medical equipment. They also hope to help build a communicating hospital network throughout the area, according to The Washington Post.
The Navy Times noted that while Obama plans to contribute an estimated $22 billion to fight the outbreak, no American medical personnel will be sent to treat patients. The disease is known to have been transmitted from a number of patients to the health care professionals helping them. Even though America will not supply doctors and nurses, the U.S. armed forces' attention to detail, useful resources and logistical expertise is expected to be of immense help.
The Pentagon has announced roughly 200 U.S. servicemembers will be sent to train in Ukraine as part of an annual peacekeeping exercise called Rapid Trident, according to The Associated Press. The exercise, which will take place in western Ukraine, will run from Sept. 15 to Sept. 26.
Support far away from the conflict
According to The Hill, this will be the first time U.S. military members have traveled to Ukraine since government officials in Kiev began fighting against pro-Russian separatists in the country. American personnel will be stationed hundreds of miles away from the border of Ukraine and Russia.
The exercise will not include live fire weaponry. Instead, the AP reported that efforts would include practicing convoy operations, patrolling and learning tactics to locate and defuse improvised explosive devices. Soldiers involved in the exercises will be taken from Italy's 173rd Airborne Brigade. Although the troops will not support Ukrainian soldiers in combat, the Pentagon has announced that more non-lethal aid has been delivered to Ukrainian military personnel in the eastern part of the country. The delivered aid included helmets, explosive disposal robots, radios, body armor, first-aid kits and more.
Uniting against Russia
This is the latest step being taken to bolster support in NATO countries after Russia has reportedly entered Ukrainian territory. President Barack Obama denounced Russia's intervention in the region during a speech in Estonia, according to The Hill. Now, U.S. officials and NATO forces are beginning to plan additional military exercises in parts of eastern Europe. Further sanctions against Russia are also being considered, and Obama may propose the tougher measures during a NATO summit in the near future.
Obama has also revealed plans to strengthen ties between NATO and Ukraine, according to a White House press release. Increased engagement between the organization and Ukrainian civilians and military personnel is intended to reinforce the bonds between the two. Additionally, Obama and other allied leaders will meet with President Poroshenko at the Wales Summit to plan further measures to increase the ties between NATO and Ukraine.
Currently, the U.S. is focusing on constant rotations of air, sea and land personnel through Europe to show support to Allies nervous about the events in eastern Ukraine. Obama has also requested approval from Congress of a European Reassurance Initiative of $1 billion, which would allow for an increased military presence in the region and build greater partnerships with NATO allies.
President Barack Obama has authorized sending 350 additional military servicemembers to Iraq to help protect U.S. personnel and facilities following a Department of State request, according to a White House press release. The Department of State requested the increased military personnel following an interagency review, and the troops will be used for security and support of the Iraqi government. They will not serve in combat roles, however.
More military support in Baghdad
While the current number of troops in Iraq is 763, some troops will be leaving the country. Around 55 troops who have been in Iraq since June will be able to leave to other areas within the region. In total, the number of U.S. military members in Iraq once the 350 troops arrive will be roughly 820, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. Just under half of that amount – 405 troops – will be stationed in Baghdad.
Those aren't the only military members stationed nearby U.S. facilities in Iraq. According to Military Times, sailors and marines in the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group will lengthen their stay in the Fifth Fleet region – the area just off the coast of the Middle East – for three weeks. They will be stationed in the area while Obama and government officials continue to study ways to combat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant insurgents.
Tensions between US and ISIL grow
Obama authorized airstrikes against ISIL targets on Aug. 28 to help besieged civilians in the town of Amirli, according to a White House press release. Those airstrikes were conducted on Aug. 30. Just days later, ISIL militants released a second video beheading an American citizen, Military Times reported. Steven Sotloff – a freelance journalist – read an ISIL statement before he was murdered on screen.
"You've spent billions of U.S. taxpayers' dollars and we've lost thousands of our troops in our previous fighting against the Islamic State," Sotloff said in the video. "So where is the people's interest in reigniting this war?"
Shortly afterward, a hooded ISIL militant – similar to the person in the previous James Foley video – appeared, saying another brief message before murdering Sotloff.
"I'm back, Obama, and I'm back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State," the man said.
The National Security Council has stated the video is authentic, according to Military Times. Since the video's release, Obama has stated the terrorists responsible for the murder of Sotloff will be found and taken to justice.
"We will not be intimidated. Their horrific acts only unite us as a country and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists," Obama said, according to Military Times. "And those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget, and that our reach is long and that justice will be served."
ISIL militants are still holding at least one hostage – a British citizen, according to The Guardian. The government of the United Kingdom failed in rescuing the citizen during an operation earlier this year.
Recently, military officials and reporters have warned of the imminent military airstrikes in Syria after President Barack Obama authorized aircraft surveillance missions over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant territory. However, the president stated in a press conference recently that airstrikes in Syria would not occur in the near future, as a plan of action in Syria is still being formulated.
No strategy in Syria yet
"We don't have a strategy yet," Obama told reporters. "We need to make sure that we've got clear plans, that we're developing them. At that point, I will consult with Congress and make sure that their voices are heard, but there's no point in me asking for action on the part of Congress before I know exactly what it is that is going to be required for us to get the job done."
Surveillance missions in Syria began just days before Obama gave statements in a press conference regarding military missions in the region. Now, it is clear the president will be taking his time to assess the threat posed by ISIL, sort through options designed by the Pentagon and consult with Congress about future measures in the country. Congress is still gone during the summer recess, and they will return come early September. According to CNN, Obama has made it clear that planning military intervention in Syria will take time, and a careful regional strategy must be formed before action is taken.
Commitment to Iraq
In the meantime, the president has reiterated military commitment to U.S. officials in Iraq. Airstrikes are already being used in defense of American personnel in Erbil and Baghdad, according to The Associated Press. ISIL militants have attempted to secure more area within the region and threaten U.S. individuals, but airstrikes have successfully pushed the militants back from the Mosul dam and from other key areas.
However, the military measures alone will not extinguish ISIL, according to the president.
"The idea that the United States or any outside power would perpetually defeat ISIS … is unrealistic," Obama said. "Our military is the best in the world. We can route ISIS on the ground and keep a lid on things temporarily. But then as soon as we leave, the same problems come back again."
Instead, Obama stated that a strong Iraqi government with a clear handle on defensive security will be necessary to make headway in the area. To establish that government, the people of Iraq would need to make compromises. In addition to that, the president encouraged surrounding regions and people to band together to help defeat ISIL.
"This should be a wake-up call to Sunni, to Shia – to everybody – that a group like ISIS is beyond the pale; that they have no vision or ideology beyond violence and chaos and the slaughter of innocent people," Obama said. "We've got to all join together – even if we have differences on a range of political issues – to make sure that they're rooted out."
An uncertain future
The AP equated Obama's aim to collaborate with Congress to similar events one year ago when the president sought to authorize airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for chemical weapons use. However, in a change of heart, Obama brought the issue to Congress for approval. Facing further scrutiny, Congress rebuffed his request for a vote and the president later canceled any plans to intervene in Syria. Some believe requesting another congressional vote could cause the same turn of events. However, Obama has not revealed plans to request a vote from Congress if he decides to authorize future airstrikes in the region.
Shiite Turkmen in northern Iraq facing off with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces may receive humanitarian aid requested by the Obama administration, according to The Associated Press. The Turkmen have been under siege from ISIL forces for weeks, and now defense officials are focused on militants moving toward the Iraqi town of Amirli just 105 miles north of Baghdad. Currently, it is estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 individuals have no access to food or water.
The situation
According to Fox News, Shiite Turkmen clashed with ISIL forces weeks ago. Residents of Amirli put up a fierce resistance against ISIL militants, preventing them from entering the town, but now the Sunni forces have cut off Amirli from the outside world, depleting their resources and leaving the people without fresh water, food or medicine despite airdrops coordinated by the Iraqi military. ISIL forces have blocked off roads to and from the town as well, cutting off any routes of escape other than by air. The United Nations has warned of a possible massacre that may occur within days.
Taking Amirli is part of ISIL's broad offensive to commandeer large clusters of land from Syria to western and northern Iraq. Fueling the fight against Amirli's residents is the militant group's disdain for Iraqi minorities, including the Shiite Turkmen – which make up Iraq's third-largest ethnic population, according to Fox News. Thousands of Turkmen have already had to flee their homes across the nation since ISIL forces captured the city of Mosul and a number of other towns and villages.
The second humanitarian mission
This would not be the first humanitarian mission in Iraq. Earlier this month, U.S. servicemembers delivered humanitarian aid to thousands of Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar by ISIL militants, according to a White House press release. Several airdrops delivered 114,000 meals and 35,000 gallons of fresh water to the threatened individuals – who numbered in the tens of thousands. That mission was carried out successfully after U.S. military advisors traveled to Mount Sinjar to find that the civilians used many of the resources before sneaking away from Mount Sinjar and evading ISIL forces over a series of nights.
Civilians on Mount Sinjar were also assisted by American airstrikes against ISIL targets. It is unclear if U.S. forces will use airstrikes to assist the people in Amirli or if airstrikes will be used primarily for the defense of U.S. officials in Baghdad.
President Barack Obama will address members of the American Legion in Charlotte, North Carolina, to announce plans concerning executive measures that aim to improve health care for veterans, according to the Associated Press. This will be the latest administration measure to improve the failing Department of Veterans Affairs after several scandals concerning fabricated patient data and staggering veteran appointment wait times brought the struggling department to the media forefront.
Improving veteran care
Obama will use his executive power to accomplish several tasks, according to a White House press release, including automatically enrolling military members who are leaving service but are receiving mental health care treatment in programs that will transfer them to a new care team in the VA, according to the AP. Obama will also call for a study aimed at detecting whether servicemembers show signs of being vulnerable to suicide or post-traumatic stress syndrome. Finally, the president will also announce a new pilot program that will increase peer support for veterans facing mental health issues and provide over $100 million in funds used for research into PTSD and suicide prevention. This comes a few weeks after Obama signed a $16 billion VA health care bill to help take veterans off of wait lists by hiring new medical professionals and leasing more VA medical facilities.
Enhancing VA services
According to the White House, several departmental changes that will affect the VA have also been announced. Recently, the department adopted a new recruiting program that will attempt to attract the most efficient and effective health care professionals available. By the end of the fiscal year, a new electronic health record system in the VA will allow health care professionals to view all patient records stored in the Department of Defense and VA systems. Those records will include doctor's notes, problem lists and inpatient discharge summaries. Additionally, a new board of physicians will be established to help advise new VA Secretary Robert McDonald.
These are just a few measures of a long list, which will be announced on Aug. 26. In total, there are 19 new executive actions Obama may explain during his speech at the American Legion National Convention. Apart from health care and VA actions, the president will also announce a partnership with lenders, including Wells Fargo Bank, CitiMortgage, Bank of America, Ocwen Loan Servicing and Quicken Loans, that will make it easier for active-duty military personnel to acquire mortgage interest rate deductions, according to the AP.
President Barack Obama has authorized manned and unmanned aircrafts to fly over the embattled nation of Syria to gain intelligence about Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces within the country, according to The Associated Press. The move could be the first step in launching airstrikes against the militants. However, the Obama administration worries that such a maneuver may help Syrian President Bashar Assad, who ISIL and U.S.-aided rebel forces are attempting to ouster.
A delicate balance
U.S. officials have expressed their concern in aiding the Syrian president, saying that airstrikes would be used for the purpose of attacking ISIL forces only, not helping Assad.
"We're not interested in trying to help the Assad regime," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday, according to the AP. "There are a lot of cross pressures here."
Currently, no military action has been authorized by Obama. The flights over Syria are being used solely for gaining intelligence over the region. However, some claim this is the natural first step to calculated military airstrikes, saying additional data must be obtained first. Obama approved the surveillance flights recently, and the missions over Syria have already begun. Pentagon officials are already drafting options for the president. Some of those options include airstrikes, according to the AP.
Rising tensions
Recently, the Syrian government warned the White House that any military airstrikes against individuals in Syria would be considered a breach of the country's sovereignty and an act of aggression, according to The New York Times. Instead, the government – led by Assad – has agreed to collaborate, and has attempted to gain U.S. support in striking ISIL militants. The White House has stated that it will not work with Assad nor will U.S. forces inform the Syrian president in advance of any military operation.
Faced with a hostile Syrian airspace, military forces have multiple options, according to the Times. American fighter jets could fly close to the border and launch precision long-range weapons from protected airspace. The U.S. military could also jam Syrian air-defense systems, giving fighter planes a period of time to locate and attack ISIL forces within the country. Moreover, American forces could rely on stealth fighter planes that can evade radar or precision missiles launched from sea.
Fighting ISIL
Obama has refused to take military action in Syria thus far, according to the AP, but that may change as governmental officials suggest the only way to eliminate ISIL forces is to take action in the embattled country. American tensions against ISIL increased after the militants released a video of their men executing an American journalist. James Foley was murdered by the militants on video after being held hostage in Syria. Although U.S. military forces attempted to rescue American hostages held in Syria earlier this summer, the targets could not be found. There are still American hostages being held by ISIL forces, and further intelligence inside Syria could allow U.S. servicemembers to coordinate another rescue mission or allow Americans to attack ISIL leaders.
Gen. Dempsey told a group of reporters recently that he would recommend the U.S. military move against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces if they become a direct threat to the U.S. homeland, according to The Associated Press. As of yet, Dempsey still considers the group a regional threat and does not believe militants are planning to launch attacks against the U.S. or European nations, the news source reported. Dempsey has not recommended military action or airstrikes against the group in Syria yet.
Battling ISIL forces
American servicemembers have not engaged ISIL militants outside of Iraq, excluding a 24-man search and rescue operation executed earlier this summer, which was intended to save American hostages inside Syria, according to CBS News.
Instead, military operations against the extremist group have been restricted to particular measures in Iraq to protect American officials and Iraqi civilians who fled to Mount Sinjar. Both events predominantly included calculated U.S. airstrikes. Thus far, the AP reported that the U.S. has launched 96 airstrikes across Iraq targeting ISIL targets. Sixty-two of those airstrikes occurred around the Mosul Dam. ISIL forces captured Mosul – Iraq's second-largest city – in June and commandeered an expanse of land stretching from Syria to western and northern Iraq.
Working with allies
If U.S. military forces decide to move against ISIL, the Joint Chiefs chairman believes surrounding nations will join the effort against the extremist group, including Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, according to Fox News.
"I think ISIS has been so brutal, and has wrapped itself in a radical religious legitimacy that clearly threatens everybody I just mentioned, that I think they will be willing partners," Dempsey said, according to the news source.
If American territories are threatened, the U.S. military response may include a variety of measures. Airstrikes in Syria have not been authorized by the Obama administration, but this could change with Dempsey's recommendation. Moreover, the U.S. could provide more assistance and advice to Iraqi forces instead of putting a greater force of boots on the ground. Dempsey told reporters that U.S. military advisers have already assessed roughly 50 Iraqi military brigades and Kurdish units to judge whether the forces are trained well enough and sufficiently equipped to fight ISIL forces, the AP reported. As of yet, the U.S. has not received permission to or attempted to put military advisers alongside Iraqi troops in combat.
After a failed attempt to rescue American hostages in Syria being held by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces, a future mission to save hostages may be very difficult, according to CBS News.
According to a statement released by the Department of Defense, U.S. forces attempted to rescue several American hostages – including James Foley – earlier this summer. However, the mission was unsuccessful, as the hostages were not being held in the suspected location.
A successful breach but no hostages
"The United States attempted a rescue operation recently to free a number of American hostages held in Syria by [ISIL]," Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. "This operation involved air and ground components and was focused on a particular captor network within ISIL. Unfortunately, the mission was not successful because the hostages were not present at the targeted location."
Despite the failed attempt and the increased difficulty U.S. forces will face as ISIL becomes more vigilant in their hostage captivity and transportation methods, Kirby said the military will continue to work to find and bring back U.S. citizens.
"The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of our citizens and to hold their captors accountable," Kirby said.
A sensitive situation
There are at least three more American citizens being held by the same Islamic terrorist forces that executed Foley, according to CBS News sources. However, locating and securing these citizens may be increasingly difficult, CBS News Homeland Security correspondent Bob Orr reported. Now, it is likely hostages will be split up and moved around to make tracking harder. Additionally, the terrorist group may limit its telecommunications to evade American forces. Government officials initially tried to keep the failed operation secret to prevent ISIL from increasing protection of the hostages.
The rescue mission
According to USA Today, President Barack Obama authorized the rescue mission because U.S. intelligence was convinced the American hostages were in significant and imminent danger.
"[Obama] authorized action at this time because it was the national security team's assessment that these hostages were in danger with each passing day in (Islamic State) custody," Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism said, according to USA Today.
The rescue mission included two black hawk helicopters equipped with stealth technology, 24 special operations forces commandos and surveillance aircraft overhead, CBS News reported. Military forces searched for hostages in a disused oil refinery that was reportedly being used as an ISIL stronghold. They came in contact with several ISIL militants and were engaged in a firefight. Several terrorist fighters were killed and one American soldier was wounded. All military forces were flown to safety.
The hostages were gone when the soldiers searched the location. Supposedly, the rescue team had just missed them, according to NBC News sources. U.S. officials reportedly admitted that intelligence about the mission was not based on the best intelligence, but the mission was launched because the hostages were thought to be in immediate danger.
Since their adoption in March, the new military tattoo regulations have caused a fair amount of controversy. According to a report by The New York Times, when the stricter rules regarding ink were adopted, a flurry of soldiers took to tattoo parlors to take advantage of the old regulations while they were still in effect. Others jumped on social media to express their frustration about the new regulations, according to Military Times.
As aggravating as tattoo regulations may be for soldiers who planned to go under the needle or servicemembers who already had tattoos, there may be good news ahead. According to Military Times, the Army is close to announcing changes in the tattoo policy, which could end in more relaxed regulations. Army spokesman Paul Prince told the news agency that changes to the policies would be inevitable and the specifics would be available in the latest version of Army Regulation 670-1.
The current tattoo guidelines
There was controversy over more than just tattoos, according to Fox News. The latest edition of AR 670-1 also regulated certain hairstyles, glasses, jewelry and fingernails. Hairstyle regulations have since been changed due to racial bias, according to a Time magazine report. This event has convinced some members of the military that tattoo regulations may be changed as well. According to AR 670-1, tattoo regulations currently prohibit:
- Tattoos on the head, neck, fingers, hands and wrists
- More than four visible tattoos below the elbow or knee
- Tattoos larger than the wearer's hand below the elbow or above the knee
- Extremist, indecent, sexist or racist tattoos of any sort.
Punishing current soldiers
Fox News reported that 300 military applicants were turned away because of tattoo regulations in the Phoenix area alone between March and mid-June. However, already enlisted servicemembers with now inappropriate tattoos face punishment as well. According to Military Times, while many members of the military with tattoos would be grandfathered in, enlisted soldiers with improper tattoos would not be able to request commission without a waiver. For many, this means the opportunity for promotion would be taken away because of a previously acceptable tattoo.
The waiver process has granted roughly 59 exemptions as of July, Prince told Military Times. However, the guidelines of the waiver process and the difference between waived tattoos and unacceptable tattoos has not been divulged.
According to Fox News, Purple Heart recipient Zac Rand – an army specialist – would have been turned down by the military if he applied today with his current tattoos.
"I don't think it's really fair to cut people short just because of [their] tattoos," Rand told the news agency.