Does the U.S. Need 'Boots on the Ground' to Fight the Islamic State? One Republican Is Willing to Take That Step

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — Bombing alone might not stop the Islamic State — and at least one GOP presidential hopeful is prepared to take the battle to the ground.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, isn't ruling out sending American ground troops to fight Islamic State militants.

The Texas Republican told ABC's "This Week" Sunday that "if need be, we should go that step. But it should be driven by the mission."

But, Cruz added, sending American forces to fight the Islamic State might not be necessary since "we have boots on the ground already": the Kurdish forces fighting against the Islamic State.

Cruz said Iraqi Kurds have a good fighting force but need to receive arms more effectively from the United States, rather than through the central government in Baghdad.

Cruz, who was attending an international security conference in Munich, wants to use Kurdish fighters — known as the peshmerga — as the ground forces in combination with U.S.-led airstrikes. He says those fighters are effective and ready.

Watch the entire segment below:

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