hampton, n.h. -- hillary rodham clinton said friday that she sees "no role whatsoever for american soldiers on the ground to go back" to iraq as the islamic state terrorist group makes gains.









the remarks by clinton -- who has disavowed her own 2003 vote for the iraq war as a senator -- come amid growing fervor among republicans to send ground forces back to iraq in some capacity to assist the baghdad government in its battle with islamic state, which earlier this week overran the city of ramadi.









the democratic front-runner made her comments during a brief news conference here at a brewery following a roundtable discussion with small-business leaders.









"i think it's a very difficult situation and i basically agree with the policies that we are currently following," clinton said. "and that is, american air support is available. american intelligence and surveillance is available. american trainers are trying to undo the damage that was done to the iraqi army by former prime minister maliki, who bears a very big part of the responsibility for what is happening inside of iraq today."









but she said "this has to be fought by and won by iraqis. there is no role whatsoever for american soldiers on the ground to go back, other than in the capacity as trainers and advisers."









the large field of republicans vying for the 2016 nomination has set a hawkish tone and all have called on the united states to do more in iraq, with varying degrees of specificity. sen. lindsey graham (r-s.c.), who is running mostly on national security issues, has called for sending 10,000 u.s. troops into the country, and others -- including former texas governor rick perry and pediatric neurosurgeon ben carson have advocated for an unspecified number.
hillary clinton: <u+2018>no role whatsoever for american soldiers on the ground<u+2019> in iraq
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