Bipartisan skeptics blast administration's Middle East strategy

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers from both parties called out Secretary of Defense Ash Carter at the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday for not having a clear plan in the Middle East.

“I think we concluded that we don’t have a strategy,” said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., after hearing statements from Carter and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The boots on the ground are frustrated, because how could they know what the strategy is when you have not thoroughly articulated it.”

Other committee members questioned the Obama administration’s decision last week to deploy 450 U.S. troops to Iraq. Carter told lawmakers the additional troops are necessary, but not sufficient. They will step up the training of local forces to battle the Islamic State.

Carter described a multi-layered strategy with political development being the most critical element.

“Each of the other lines of effort requires success in this line because it’s the only way to create support among local forces – and local people,” he said.

Both Dempsey and Carter agreed stability in the Middle East must start from the inside out and the military is one component of a much broader strategy. Carter is working to recruit local forces to fight for America’s interests. He said the plan lacks willing trainees—the military budgeted for 24,000 locally trained troops but has only recruited 7,000 so far. Carter said he hopes the additional 450 U.S. troops will help with recruitment.

“Hope is not a strategy,” said committee chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas. “Hoping for an inclusive Iraq and with Sunnis joining the fight, I hope that does happen. … If that doesn’t happen pretty quick we can’t have ISIS continue to grow.”

The extra troops will head to al Taqqadum military base in Anbar Province. Their task will be to reach out to local tribesmen and bring them into the fight. Carter said he plans to be fully committed to all trainees by equipping them with resources and intelligence.

Democrats also showed skepticism about the strategy.

“We need to look at the world we live in today. … The Sunni people have no motivation to fight,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii.

Many of Carter and Dempsey’s responses to lawmakers focused on an unstable budget as the problem. “I don’t want to make this a budget hearing, but predictability of the budget would help us accomplish our goals,” Dempsey said.

But Thornberry blamed the Obama administration’s lack of leadership. He noted Obama admitted to not having a complete strategy to counteract ISIS.

“The situation in the Middle East has deteriorated substantially in the last six years and what’s worse is that there seems to be nothing coming from the White House to change that trajectory,” he said.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., also doubted the Defense Department’s plan. He said making politics the primary mode of attack against ISIS is a mistake. Moulton said he does not know a single U.S. commander in the Middle East who knows anything about a political plan: “If we don’t know what the long-term plan is, then I’m not sure it’s worth putting these troops at risk in Iraq today.”