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Pentagon chief says he is satisfied by U.S. campaign against ISIS

 
Published Feb. 24, 2015

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — Calling the Islamic State "hardly invincible," new Defense Secretary Ashton Carter gave his blessing on Monday to the U.S.-led strategy against the militant group after convening a high-powered summit of U.S. commanders and diplomats here.

Carter emerged from a six-hour strategy session with military leaders and ambassadors to say he was encouraged by the direction of the campaign against ISIS. He gave no indication that he would push for major changes in the Obama administration's approach, despite urging from some members of Congress to move more aggressively.

"The lasting defeat of this brutal group can and will be accomplished," Carter told reporters at this U.S. Army installation close to the Iraqi border.

At the same time, the Pentagon chief acknowledged that the war against ISIS has become more complex, with the militant movement spreading into North Africa and Afghanistan, showing few signs of budging from its strongholds in Iraq and Syria, and drawing new recruits from Europe and the United States.

Carter took office just a week ago and has already adopted a more visible and direct role in the campaign against ISIS than did his predecessor, Chuck Hagel. But Carter did not offer any fresh ideas in public for combating the group and was circumspect when asked about how he will grapple with some key decisions he is likely to face in the coming months.

At a question-and-answer session earlier on Monday with scores of soldiers at Camp Arifjan, Carter was asked whether he would send more troops to Iraq. "I don't have a good answer for you right now," he replied. "That's one of the things that I want to climb on top of."

About 3,000 U.S. troops are in Iraq, mostly serving to advise and train Iraqi security forces. An additional 9,700 American troops are stationed in Kuwait, mostly at Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base, a key Air Force outpost in the Persian Gulf.

Carter was also noncommittal when another soldier asked what conditions might drive him to recommend to President Barack Obama that U.S. troops should become engaged in direct ground combat with ISIS, something the president has vowed to avoid.