Expanded war in Iraq, and war in Syria.

[Vattel]

"First, we will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.

Moreover, I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq."

[flamingdem]

1. The practical take is, we'll get it started for you guys

then if you (Gulf states) don't want Isis knocking on your door then you can do the dirtiest jobs.

[Vattel]

4. True, Obama doesn't want US combat troops on the ground (except some special op troops).

He wants the US contribution to be air strikes.

[morningfog]

6. We'll get started and get stuck in some capacity

for years to come. What's the endgame? What's the exit strategy.

[flamingdem]

7. They need to articulate that but the scenario is unstable

which is why really the Syria idea is scary.

[Chathamization]

8. Same endgame as Libya. Wait until people get bored of and ignore the carnage they championed, then

get the hell out before the entire country collapses.

[morningfog]

9. At least that will ensure another radical terrorist

org to fight for the next decade.

[Chathamization]

14. When they attack, we need to act shocked and act like we weren't doing anything. Then say they hate

us for our freedoms.

[still_one]

11. The exit strategy can occur any time with the way he is proceeding. It would be a different

question if he committed a lot of ground troops, like the assholes did when they invaded Iraq and Afghanistan

[morningfog]

12. And we'll just say, welp, that cancer is undestroyed. Sorry! Our plan failed.

We're done?

That's not how it works. We've already been told this is a 3 year mission or longer. If Plan A isn't working, Plan B will be tried.

[Purveyor]

2. I'm anxiously waiting for the Kremlins response to the purposed bombing of Syria.

What stooge have we in place to fuck Syria up even more than it is if Assad falls?

[flamingdem]

5. They seem to think that sorties can get into Northern Syria

without contest from Assad.

So that would strengthen the other conservative rebels and Assad.

If we see it as a focus on Isis that works but it's a crap shoot, way too much, but what are the alternatives?

[Marrah_G]

3. My daughter was 6 weeks old when her uncle left for Iraq.

She just turned 24. Her uncle has been involved in ever action since. When he was pulled from retirement to go to Iraq for a year, she and I were in DC marching against the war alongside VfP and IVAW. She was 16 then. Now not only can her uncle be recalled but also her younger brother can be deployed.

I wonder, will my children ever know a time when our country is not fighting a war in some foreign place?

I sit here, listening to the president, with tears in my eyes, feeling like we are going back down the rabbit hole and that nothing we have done to try and push peace has done any good.

[Vattel]

10. It is very sad. We are so easily drawn into wars,

often in pursuit of purely speculative benefits, and always knowing that we will inflict certain harm on many innocent bystanders. We could as a nation move towards using our resources to achieve benefits that don't require the horrendous costs of war. It is within our power to house the homeless, reduce infant mortality, reduce the incidence of malaria, etc. Lives saved without killing anyone: what a concept.

[Marrah_G]

13. Agree- we always have money to kill people, but never money to save people.

[ucrdem]

15. The role of Assad in this will be interesting.

Basically we're throwing in with him against his rivals, which ought to come as welcome news.

[flamingdem]

16. A huge help for him

Especially since the airport loss and subsequent massacre of 250 Syrian army troops.