Top Dem: GOP repeating ‘failed policies’ in Iraq

The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee is slamming calls for ground troops to fight Islamic militants, accusing Republicans of repeating the mistakes of the Iraq War.

“The incessant call by Republicans for U.S. combat ground forces to be sent into Iraq and Syria is ill-founded and does not comport with reality. We did that before, and it didn’t work,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said in a statement Friday.

{mosads}“After more than seven years of conflict, nearly 4,500 dead Americans, and more than $1.5 trillion spent, Iraq is still broken. Why do Republicans want to relive the failed policies of the past?” he continued.

Smith said the U.S. is right to support Iraqi forces as they battle the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), “but they must be the boots on the ground in their own country.”

His comments come as Congress weighs a measure authorizing the use of military force against ISIS. Lawmakers, though, are split on what the bill should say, with some urging language that would prevent U.S. troops from seeing combat.

Republicans, though, say they will oppose any ISIS measure that would limit military options.

House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) warned Thursday that any authorization of force against ISIS that prohibits the use of U.S. ground troops would be “dead on arrival” on Capitol Hill.

President Obama announced last week that he is deploying 1,500 more troops to Iraq, doubling the American presence to over 3,000. But the White House insists that U.S. forces will not be in combat.

It is also unclear when lawmakers would vote on authorization, with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) saying the new Congress should take up the issue.

On Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) skewered the administration for taking an “incremental” approach against ISIS.

“You’re going to be north of 10,000 if you want to get Iraq right and you’re going to have that same number at least in Syria,” he said.

Smith said any U.S. strategy in Syria “must continue to guard against U.S combat ground troops getting bogged down in another costly land war in the Middle East.”

He said the U.S. should aim to train and equip vetted rebel groups inside Syria to fight President Bashar Assad’s government and ISIS.

“We need a capable and willing partner on the ground if we are to be successful in Syria as well as Iraq,” said Smith. “But it must be a local force with the support of the local population.”