|
 Hagel, who announced his resignation under pressure in November,
told CNN all options must be considered in Iraq, including sending
troops for non-combat roles such as gathering intelligence and
locating Islamic State targets.
"I think it may require a forward deployment of some of our troops
...," he said. "I would say we're not there yet. Whether we get
there or not, I don't know."
Hagel's comments echoed testimony by General Martin Dempsey,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Congress last fall when he
said U.S. troops might have to take a larger role on the ground in
Iraq.
 Such a deployment would be in addition to the 4,500 U.S. troops
already committed to training and advising roles in Iraq.
Hagel also said he had conflicts with White House officials on
releasing prisoners from the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.
[to top of second column] |
As secretary of defense, Hagel authorized which prisoners would be
released and when. He told CNN that the White House did not agree
with his cautious approach, saying there were disagreements on "the
pace of the releases."
Asked by CNN if he had been pressured, Hagel said, "we've had a lot
of conversations" with the White House and Congress on the releases.
(Reporting by Bill Trott; Editing by Eric Beech)
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