Wasnt Combat News Today

So -- a ground combat operation in syria. so im trying to figure out how can we measure that? what are soldiers in combat doing that these train, advise and assist soldiers arent doing? it looks and smells and sounds like a combat mission. and soldiers are dying. the pentagon has described some of this -- >> let me say, what im trying to do is to be as specific as possible with you about the specific responsibilities that these special operations personnel have. this is not in any way an attempt...

Away from them. we have three layers of potential combat operations inside syria that we did not have when they were moving in and out. the placement of them in syria for any length of time implies these other levels of protection which are all combat, correct? >> again, i think what you primarily described are air combat operations that these are military pilots taking military strikes against enemy targets. they have been under way for more than a year. so im not sure that this represents a dr...

Week saying we are in combat. so im just, it would be great if we can just have a moment of clarity here and you can acknowledge that yes, this mission is changing, it is not what it was said waits going to be at the onset of this. i just -- >> to say that, jim, would only confuse the situation. the fact of the matter is, the mission that the commander in chief has given our military personnel in iraq and now in syria, is a train, advise and assist mission. we have gone to great lengths to make ...

>> a very boisterous hearing today, some aggressive questioning, but we expected that with this news, first reported for us by our chief foreign correspondent richard engel, who has been listening from istanbul, turkey, to this briefing and we will start, richard, with you. what did you not hear asked and what answer differed with the information as you understand it? >> reporter: well, as i have been listening to the white house trying incredibly hard to explain how this is not a combat role, b...

At that time, white house officials were saying it wasnt combat. secretary of defense carter was the first one in the administration to say from the podium here in the pentagon its combat, its complicated. subsequently, other military officials have said of course its combat. if youre on the ground, if youre getting shot at and returning fire, its combat. and i understand what josh earnest is going through. hes trying to protect more or less a political policy rather than a military mission here...

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