(PatriotNews.net) – Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines during the debate when she claimed that the U.S. has no troops in active combat zones for the first time this century. However, critics quickly pointed out that this isn’t entirely accurate.
During the debate, Harris said, “As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is on active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century.” While the U.S. isn’t officially engaged in a declared war, troops are still deployed in dangerous areas, like Syria and Iraq.
A Pentagon official clarified that just because troops aren’t in declared war zones doesn’t mean they aren’t facing risks. Many U.S. service members are in locations where hostile actions can happen. Some, for example, continue to receive hazardous duty pay for serving in these areas, like Syria, where U.S. troops are involved in operations against ISIS.
Military experts, like Mark Montgomery, a retired admiral, and Robert Greenway, a former National Security Council director, have pointed out that U.S. forces have been continuously deployed in dangerous regions since the Gulf War in 1991. Just recently, U.S. forces were involved in a raid against ISIS in Syria, and several troops were injured in Iraq in attacks by Iranian-backed militants.
While Harris’ statement might suggest no active combat, U.S. troops remain in harm’s way in several regions. Critics argue that as Vice President, she should be fully aware of these ongoing operations. Despite no new declared wars, American military personnel still face risks in global hotspots, and it’s a stretch to say they aren’t in harm’s way.
The U.S. military presence in countries like Iraq is likely to continue, with a tentative plan for withdrawal by 2025. However, until then, American soldiers remain on the ground in hostile areas.
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