U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey explained a potential strategy for troops in Iraq. The Pentagon is envisioning a several new military bases (“lily pads”) around Iraq, which could mean even more U.S. personnel beyond those stationed there currently and the ones approved for deployment this week. A significant problem with this plan is that their mission to train Iraqi troops cannot be successful if there are no Iraqi troops to train.
At least 61 were killed and 30 were wounded:
Gunmen killed a farmer and wounded another near Baquba.
In Basra, gunmen killed a civilian.
Two policemen were killed when a bomb exploded near an outpost on the border with Jordan.
An airstrike in Qaim left 16 militants dead and at least 11 more wounded.
About a dozen militants were killed during a failed attack in Sinjar.
Security forces killed six militants and wounded 18 more in Albu Bali.
Three suicide bombers were killed in Bashiqa.
In Ramadi, airstrikes killed many militants, but security forces killed at least 20 more.
Dozens of militants were killed during the liberation of Wastana village near Kirkuk.
A large number of militants were killed in Garma.
More militant casualties were reported in the Kirkuk region after airstrikes.
In Samarra, militant casualties were also reported.
