“The Obama administration is considering opening a network of new bases in Iraq like the hub being established west of Baghdad, the nation’s top military officer said,” according to The Wall Street Journal , “something that would deepen the U.S. role in the war against Islamic State.”  

“Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the possibility of several new bases across Iraq as the U.S. looks for ways to help Baghdad gain the upper hand against the extremist militants. Each base could require additional U.S. troops, but it was unclear how many or whether an overall troop increase would be needed.”  

“He said he envisioned that the new training base at Taqaddum would serve as a model for other bases, which he called ‘lily pads’ and hinted that such sites could be used in the region between the capital Baghdad and the cities of Tikrit and Mosul to the north.”