Quote:Could get ugly. Could put ISIS on the run. As far as Assad goes, the overthrowing of leaders in volatile areas hasnt improved the area imo. Iraq, Libya, Egypt are more sensitive areas. 

As everyone blames POTUS and SOS, I wonder what the joint chiefs of staff have recommended?  These air strikes are a band aid on an open wound. Sadly, boots on the ground may be necessary and perhaps Putin has forgotten Afghanistan and sends in his Spetsnaz. The American people are tired of war..wars that we dont play to win. Maybe those who havent had bullets zing by while not being allowed to return fire are all gung ho, and play arm chair general, but its not simple and if it was somewhere in the jungles of Africa, no one would give a flip. 

It'll be another long drawn out quagmire, unless they go in and quit cat footing around.

Terrorism is a worldwide problem, maybe the powers that be can put aside differences for just a while ( yes, and sleep with one eye open ) and tear these clowns a new one. 

 

For now, speculations and opinions are fine, albeit pre mature. Lets see what plays out. Syria is Russias only ally in the region; all I can say is ..what took them so long. Maybe its was..hey let the Americans spend their resources while we watch. But with zero results, Putin comes in and says..let me show you how its done. Or so he may think.

Destroying an enemy is one thing. An ideal is another.

It wont end next year so lets see what Trump would do...maybe build a beeeyooteeful wall around the area.

Obama certainly had no military credentials...what candidate running next year has any? Since many blame the prez, I'd like to know..it may sway a vote

 

Personally, I think we need to go back to the basics.   Why are we there in the first place?   Start with that, then decide what our goals are, and then decide on a plan to reach those goals.   But for the last two administrations, I don't think the policymakers have really thought through what is going to come out of all this mucking around in the middle east.   It makes you long for the good old days when we had Hussein, Qaddafi, Mubarak, and Assad.   At least they kept things under control. 

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