In response to recent advances by the Militant Jihadist group ISIS, the United States is
sending 300 military advisors to Iraq. If you're anything like me you're thinking, "Military
advisors?! Iraq?! Is this just a less scary way of saying we're sending troops back into
Iraq?
From what we can tell, Yes. These are our troops. Our best troops, in fact. They are
Highly trained Navy SEALS and Army Rangers. AND yes, a lot of them have prior experience
fighting in Iraq. So, technically speaking, we are sending troops back into Iraq. But
militarily speaking...No. We are not sending troops back into Iraq....
By definition a military advisor is a soldier sent to a foreign nation to help that nation's
military. They are not an invading force. They assist with things like training, organization,
and strength assessment. They'll even help that nation plan attacks and other military
actions behind the scenes. So they are not at war with anybody.
But the history of Military advisors is long and their success rate changes mission to
mission. The US was very successful after World War II in Germany and Japan when we
sent Military Advisors to help rebuild those countries.
We were much less successful in South Vietnam in the 1950's, and 60's, when we sent Military
Advisors to help quell the expansion of communism. And the story of advisors in Vietnam may inform
us on how things could go wrong with our current plans in Iraq.
See, in 1955, President Eisenhower sent 700 military advisors to the nation to help their
forces combat North Vietnamese aggression, much like we're sending advisors to Iraq to
help combat ISIS. Unfortunately, Eisenhower's plan wasn't working and in 1961 President
Kennedy sent an additional 500 military advisors. And by 1964 we had 23,000 soldiers on the
ground in Vietnam and they were actively engaging the enemy. But they were still called military
advisors. We became fully engaged in the war in Vietnam and we all know how things went
from there.
Now, sending Military advisors to a country does not mean that you're going to war, but
it does put your nation one step closer to a real conflict.
If you'd like to learn more information about ISIS, click now to see our video
about the havoc they're creating in Syria and Iraq.
And if you're looking for something a little less terrifying, check out our episode on
real life Kings and Queens.
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