Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling spent 16 months in Northern Iraq . Though I studied this area for months prior to the deployment and then lived , traveled and interacted with the people in the area for over a year and a half , I still had difficulties understanding many cultural dynamics -- even with the advantage of State Department professionals , intelligence analysts from top three-letter agencies and cultural subject matter experts from universities and think tanks at my disposal . He said the U.S. military is not going to be able to hold off an ISIS attack on Mosul for long. U.S. airstrikes , Special Forces may help but wo n't gain victory over ISIS . Hertling : Only the Iraqi , Kurd security forces have the potential to oust ISIS .
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling spent 16 months in Northern Iraq . He said the U.S. military is not going to be able to hold off an ISIS attack on Mosul for long. U.S. airstrikes , Special Forces may help but wo n't gain victory over ISIS . Hertling : Only the Iraqi , Kurd security forces have the potential to oust ISIS .