Seeking a middle ground between calls for tough military action and none at all, President Barack Obama said Thursday he was sending up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to help the embattled government hold off a lightning advance from the north by Sunni militants. Obama told White House reporters the goal was to prevent a civil war in Iraq that could destabilize the region, and also prevent creation of a terrorist safe haven in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria from which U.S. enemies could plan and launch attacks against American interests. At the same time, Obama sought to allay fears of a military escalation that could relaunch the eight-year war he halted by withdrawing U.S. troops in 2011.
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Conservative hawks says Obama didn't go far enough
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President Obama outlines steps to bolster Iraq against ISIS fighters
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CNN military analyst: "It is boots on the ground"
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U.S. forces will advise Iraq's military, collect intelligence
U.S. officials acknowledged the @placeholder military advisers would likely face danger based on their location.