I keep hearing that President Obama is failing to communicate his strategy for dealing ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

with ISIS. The cry is coming from the right, a few on the left, the pundit class ... each using their very own retired General/military strategist.

I keep asking (myself),"Who exactly is President Obama supposed to be communicating his strategy to/with? And, how?"

The complaint makes no sense to me because, in my limited experience, the most effective strategy is the strategy that no one can see through.

[msrizzo]

1. My husband and I were discussing this

My husband suggested that it is because of Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld manipulation during the Iraq war, embedding media and leaking to them that the media now thinks that if nobody tells them the strategy, then there is none. Never mind that what they were hearing from that administration was all shock and awe lies, never mind that everyone knows it was bullshit......it still seems to be the standard that they are demanding from Obama.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. No issue with discussing strategic goals

Big problem with discussing tactical plans.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. I think his comments that ISIS was contained on the heels of their

Bombing in turkey

The bombing of the Russian passenger plane

Bombing in Lebanon

Right before

The multiple massacres in Paris

Leads some to wonder if he's getting the best advice.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. I put that to inartful phrasing ...

I suspect what President Obama was saying is, ISIS, the fighting force in Iraq and Syria, is contained.

[GreatGazoo]

4. What Obama can't say is that the first goal is to topple Assad

ISIS is a proxy for the Saudis who also want Assad out and want a counter force against Shiite militias backed by Iran and the new government of Iraq.

ISIS was going to be the excuse for the US to re-enter Iraq and invade Syria, topple Assad and install a more Saudi-friendly government but the Russians are spoiling that.

The US media spins fairytales and sticks to a certain narrative no matter what the actual events are. They almost never make a distinction between Sunni and Shiite. They use vague language and euphemisms like "boots on the ground" and "gulf states" (meaning: Saudi Arabia and Qatar) and then claim Obama is the one being vague.

[treestar]

5. The right will always find President Obama to be wrong in some way

no matter what he does. And they always want a war.