more soldiers to Iraq to train Iraqi and Kurdish
forces to fight ISIS, in a deployment that would
almost double the total number of American troops
there to 2,900.
The White House said in a statement that it will
also ask Congress for another $5.6 billion to fund
the fight against ISIS. The troops will not have a
combat role, and will operate from bases outside
Baghdad and Erbil.
To date, Anbar province and Taji district have been
considered as two likely locations for operations
centers outside of Baghdad and Erbil. CNN
reported last week that the military was preparing
plans to deploy U.S. advisers to Anbar, much of
which is under the control of ISIS.
"The President took these decisions at the request
of the Iraqi Government and upon the
recommendation of Secretary Hagel and his
military commanders based upon the assessed
needs of the Iraqi Security Forces," the statement
said.
"We believe this request is an opportunity for
Congress and this Administration to work together
to provide the additional resources needed to
degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL and I look
forward to working with Congress to secure this
funding," said Shaun Donovan, Obama's budget
director.
READ: Obama's ISIS, Ebola 'mission creep'
The budget request marks an early test for
cooperation between Obama and congressional
leaders following the Republican rout in this week's
midterm elections that reshaped Washington's
balance of power.
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