Oh, I see, we'll "only fight ISIS" in Syria. Because *that's* how combat works.

[Recursion]

I'm so glad to hear that, secretary Kerry, because I was clearly misled. In my 7 years in the Marine Corps including two tours in Iraq I picked up the clearly absurd idea that combat happens when either of two sides engage within range of one another. Silly me.

But, thankfully, you have disabused me of this notion: clearly US troops can simply say "we aren't fighting you" to hostile personnel who are not in ISIS. Great to know.

[Scootaloo]

1. I don't recall Syria asking for our aid.

If I understand correctly, that means that we are actually committing a crime if we send our military into that nation in any capacity.I think it also means that there's a pretty good chance that Damascus will see our men and women as, well... enemies. What with all the talk of overthrowing their government, and all.

I hope it doesn't take a Beruit-style loss of life for our leadership to give it a Beruit-style response - "Nope, i'm out. Done. Bye."

[TreasonousBastard]

2. When it's a proxy war with Russia...

all bets are off and the rules change.

If you think this is strange, wait until China pulls something. Methinks they're watching this closely.

[Fumesucker]

3. It's easy with the distinctive camo uniforms that ISIS wears

If they run away then they are ISIS, if they stand their ground then they are fanatical ISIS suicide bombers.

[Recursion]

4. "Easy: you don't lead them as much"

Yeah.

[Sunlei]

5. USA would be better off to pull out-couple hundred fighters we support & move their families here.

Be a heck of a lot less expensive and no war with Assad/Russia. That countries destroyed anyway.

[Tipperary]

6. This is all so wrong. I am very disappointed in President Obama.

He has become more of a war president than even Bush was.

[karynnj]

9. There is no sane metric that would say that

The number of soldiers that Bush had in Iraq and Afghanistan far exceeds the number Obama has anywhere in the world. There is nothing anywhere near the level of "shock and Awe" --- and that makes almost all the Republicans angry.

PS - If you are disappointed with President Obama - thinking he is more a war President than Bush -- Why the Hillary logo? As you know, she has repeatedly - including in her book - argued for a more hawkish policy than Obama.

[Fred Sanders]

7. 50 elite commandos to help kill the Satanic ISIS, who claimed to have killed 240 Russian civilians

just yesterday, and kill thousands with little discrimination or remorse anyone that disagrees with them, is good with me.

[4139]

8. The only way our troop could only focus on isis is if they are embedded with the Kurds....

Turkey ain't going to like that.

[karynnj]

10. Secretary Kerry also served -- and it seems like the way that is accomplished

is clear from Obama's comment that they will assist the Kurds and Syrians in the far north east - in an area where they are fighting ISIS. Now, obviously - as both Kerry and Lavrov have spoken of with regards to their efforts -- and as the US has done with bombing since the start of this - they will deconflict with BOTH Russia and Syria. Note that not once in the the year has the US and Syria inadvertently attacked each other. (I think the key is that the areas where we are fighting ISIS are NOT the areas where the Syrian government has retained control or has forces.)

[jwirr]

11. All this would be a bit simpler if we were not trying to over-throw

another world leader. As we have seen that seldom works.

[CJCRANE]

12. I'm sure we can believe that

just like when they said "no boots on the ground" they meant it.

Oh waitaminute...