In the past I have been none too kind to the media…..basically I think most are nothing but extensions of corporate America……they stopped being “fair and balanced” many years ago.  Yesterday all the players in our war on ISIL were on Capitol Hill to testify before Congress…..it was the usual theatrics but then the Joint Chief of Staff had something to say….

President Obama has been adamant that American military intervention against ISIS will not involve US ground troops. But as it turns out, the people who will be doing the actual intervening aren’t so sure about that. In testimony today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey said he’s all for the international coalition that the US is assembling, reports the New York Times, but:

• “My view at this point is that this coalition is the appropriate way forward. I believe that will prove true. But if it fails to be true, and if there are threats to the United States, then I of course would go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of US military ground forces.”

For example, Dempsey said that airstrikes might not be effective in heavily populated areas such as Mosul, Iraq. In that case, he might recommend what he called “close combat advising,” in which US special forces work on the ground with Iraqi military leaders and help them ferret out ISIS troops, reports the Guardian. He also said US “advisers” might have to be on the ground to direct airstrikes. Obama, he added, seems prepared for such requests. “At this point, his stated policy is we will not have US ground forces in direct combat,” said Dempsey. “But he has told me as well to come back to him on a case-by-case basis.”

With that statement the MSM went wild….CBS, ABC, FOX, WaPo, Politico…..their headline was that US general sez US troops will be used on the ground…..the freak out began………….and social media exploded………. as they pointed out Obama had said that there would be none…….it was breaking news for most of the afternoon as the MSM dashed to get their experts on to talk about this……..all it was was a slow news day and they decided to sensationalize this statement…….

Someone in the media forgot to point out that the general does NOT make policy…….all he can do is make a recommendation and the prez will either agree or not…….that is why were have a civilian commander in chief…..please return for a remedial training in Civics.