Consider Some Options Handle U.S. Extremists in IraqAmerica is considering various options to respond to extremist Islamists are moving forward throughout Iraq and now control most of the country's northern region.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, determined to keep moving forward to Baghdad while the Iraqi armed forces can do little to confront the extremist movement forward.
This development is seen as an embarrassment for Washington, which has spent about $ 25 billion to train and equip the Iraqi army since 2003 when the US-led war began.
President Barack Obama on Thursday stressed that he does not rule out the possibility of a response to the crisis. But there is little choice for the American president, who recalled American troops from Iraq just two and a half years ago and are reluctant to involve America in another war overseas.
One option is to use drone attacks to target the army, ISIL, as did Americans against suspected militants in other countries hit by the uprising, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia.
U.S. officials said Thursday the drone strikes is one option being considered, and they said the U.S. has been using unmanned aircraft for intelligence purposes.