New hints today that American combat forces could once again be sent to the battlefield in Iraq.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairmen General Martin Dempsey laid out the administration strategy to defeat the Islamic state;that's the militant force that seized parts of Iraq and Syria.They were testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee.Hagel said the mission will not be over soon.This will not be an easy or a brief effort. It is complicated.We are at war with ISIL, as we are with Al Qaeda.NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman has more on today's hearing.President Obama said his strategy to defeat the Islamic state will not include American ground combat troops, what he calls boots on the ground.Instead, hundreds of American advisers are heading to Iraqwhere they'll work alongside Iraqi troops in headquarters.General Dempsey explained their role.The folks on the ground are in a very much a combat advisory role.They are not participating in direct combat.There is no intention for them to do so.No intention. But Dempsey told the senators that there's evidence Isis is ready to attack the U.S.That would be a different story.And if there are threats to the United Statesthen I, of course, would go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of U.S. military ground forces.That threat doesn't seem to be imminent.The U.S. intelligence community says the Islamic state is focused on Syria and Iraq.The American military role in Iraq is much more involved than it would be in Syria.
