Rhodes touts U.S. special operators as 'force multiplier' in Syria

The White House’s deputy national security adviser said Nov. 2 that the U.S. special operators deploying to Syria will not have a combat mission, but acknowledged that in limited circumstances, they could play a combat role.

Ben Rhodes said during a DefenseOne event that special operators are “intended to be a force multiplier that will allow for those who are on the front lines of the fight against ISIL to be better coordinated, better equipped, and to hopefully have better results in taking back territory.”

Rhodes emphasized “the purpose of this mission -- just like the purpose of our presence in Iraq -- is not to have a constant raid capacity in the country. It’s to facilitate the operations of these other partners.”

Despite saying that combat “is not their principal function in being deployed,” Rhodes declined to rule out the possibility that special operators could be drawn into combat situations.

Asked about the Oct. 22 raid in Hawijah, Iraq, that resulted in the death of Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, Rhodes maintained that that instance “was more the exception than the rule.” He acknowledged the possibility that commanders on the ground in Syria could determine that “they’re under some type of threat that requires them to engage.”

Rhodes said “the norm for these operators is not going to be going out on raids. That’s not their mission.” Still, he continued, “they will make judgment calls” about whether to engage in combat situations on a case-by-case basis.

Challenging the contention that President Obama was going back on his word by sending the special operations contingent to Syria, Rhodes said the commander in chief is merely “changing the nature of how the United States engages in these countries and these conflicts.” The president is adamant, he said, “that we’re not going to take back ownership of security in Iraq and Syria -- or, for that matter, in Afghanistan. But, we need to find ways to use our very unique capabilities to support these other partners on the ground.”

Rhodes said the previous strategy of removing opposition forces from Syria, training them abroad, and reinserting them into the fight “was not working.”