“President Barack Obama notified Congress that up to 275 troops would be sent to Iraq to provide support and security for US personnel and the American Embassy in Baghdad.
The soldiers – 170 of which have already arrived in Iraq – were armed for combat, though the White House insisted there was no plan for US forces to be engaged in direct fighting between the advancing jihadists led by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Isis) and the Baghdad government.
About 100 additional forces are being put on standby, most likely in Kuwait, and could be used for airfield management, security and logistics support.”* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.
*Read more here from Damien McElroy / Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10904984/Iraq-crisis-US-sends-nearly-300-troops-as-planning-for-air-strikes-underway.html