As Washington weighs changes in its strategy to fight the radical Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, the head of the House's Foreign Affairs Committee has introduced a new wrinkle into the debate: providing weapons and military equipment directly to the Kurdistan Regional Government's Peshmerga forces.

Traditionally, Baghdad has to sign off on any arms transfers to the Peshmerga, a 190,000-strong ground force that has recently had some success fighting the militants, after being outfought for much of the summer.

But this new legislation, which if not passed by the 113th Congress by Dec. 31 would have to be resubmitted for consideration next year in the Republican-controlled 114th Congress, would provide "anti-tank and anti-armor weapons, armored vehicles, long-range artillery, crew-served weapons and ammunition, secure command and communications equipment" to the Kurdish forces

In a Nov. 20 statement, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., said that "our critical partner in the fight against ISIL is badly outgunned. Despite being armed mainly with antiquated weapons, the Iraqi Kurdish 'Peshmerga' forces have proven to be the most effective ground force currently fighting ISIL. For months, I have urged the Administration to urgently arm the Kurds. So too have many others in Congress. This important legislation will finally allow the 190,000-strong force to get the firepower it needs to effectively fight this brutal terrorist organization."

Royce's bill would also give President Barack Obama the leeway to include more defense items "that the President determines to be appropriate."

The Iraqi constitution guarantees Iraqi Kurdistan the right to maintain ''internal security forces for the region such as police, security forces, and guards of the region'' the proposed bill states, but also acknowledges that there are limits to the interpretation of this right.

The legislation charges that attempts by the United States to resupply Kurdish forces this year were "constrained and delayed" by the Baghdad government, but that Obama should "consult with the Government of Iraq" to allow these shipments "on an emergency and temporary basis."

There has been recognition from top US military brass that the anti-Islamic State strategy is very much a work in progress, and is subject to constant change.

Speaking at a defense conference in Washington on Wednesday, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US strategy toward combating the militants and helping regional allies is "going to change" and "will change often," as events on the ground dictate.

"I've got a 10-page document from the National Security Council," Dempsey said. "I've got a 503-page document from US Central Command. I've got 190 planners down there in Tampa from 30 nations. We have a strategy."

Dempsey had just returned from a trip to Iraq and the Kurdish-controlled area in the north where he met in Erbil with the president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, Masud Barzani, and in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Back in Washington, he said that Iraqi and Kurdish forces are "doing much better, but they have some deep structural vulnerability that must be fixed.

"There's this delicate balance being established, and I think over the next few months with the help of our advisers ... there will continue to be progress on the ground."

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