Mike Morell: 100,000 Troops Needed to Stop Islamic State, But ‘There’s No Stomach for That’

Former Acting Director of the CIA Mike Morrell said he disagrees with the president’s decision not to put boots on the ground to fight the Islamic State.

The international coalition responsible with degrading and destroying IS must have the stomach to dedicate a large number of troops if it wishes to beat the growing terrorist organization, Morrell said.

“What can be done in response? Not much,” Morrell said. “Unless the coalition is willing to put more ground troops into Iraq and possibly into Syria, there is very little we can do.”

Morrell said the U.S. and its allies have two options: Go after IS leadership in hopes that the organizational structure crumbles, or insert an invading force to combat and overwhelm IS forces. The former senior security adviser said he does not believe leaders in the U.S. and Europe will follow his advice, however.

“It would take 100,000, and that will simply doesn’t exist here or in the other coalition countries.” Morrell said.