Jeb: U.S. Combat Troops May Be Required to ‘Inspire’ Int’l Effort Against Islamic State

Wednesday on CNN’s “New Day,” former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL), a candidate for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, reacted to a question from show host Alisyn Camerota about how Bush if he elected president would handle the threat from ISIS and if that strategy would require U.S. ground troops.

Bush did not commit to saying he would send U.S. forces into that theater, but he did say it could be a possibility if his military commanders saw it as necessary.

“Fifty special operators is 50 better than what existed before,” Bush said. “But it’s not a strategy. A strategy would be how do we mobilize support for the remnants of the Syrian Free Army? And it might require combat troops to inspire an international effort. I would let the military commanders give the commander-in-chief options rather than tell them what you want to hear. And so not having gotten those options, I can’t tell you if we are going to have boots on the ground but certainly, a more expanded role for the special operators would be essential. And being more effective in strikes as it is relates to the air.”

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