US troops on the ground in Syria

[Fast Walker 52]

"The Obama administration announced on Friday it will send US special forces into Syria, breaking its repeated vow that Barack Obama would not send ground troops into the war-torn country. This is the latest in a series of U-turns and broken promises that further cements our Forever War and sets a disturbing precedent for whoever becomes the next US president in 2016."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/30/us-special-forces-syria-obamas-latest-broken-foreign-policy-promise

Why are on earth are we escalating the combat in this horrific conflict-- a war that has already caused so much death and destruction?

We need to work for peace, and cut off the funding and weapon supplies of the people fighting in Syria. More bombs are not going to solve anything. But our leaders will waste billions more precious US dollars on this sickening conflict.

We never seem to run out of money for war, or worry about its cost, do we? Even when it is a foreign conflict that does not directly threaten us, cost is simply no concern.

The GOP of course rails against government spending unless it's for war, and they are so dysfunctional these days they can't even mount a coherent response to anything the president does.

It depresses me how much Obama must be in the grip of the war mongers of the national security state and the military industrial complex.

[polly7]

1. Because so much has been spent already dividing and creating horror in Syria that it can't

be left now to remain in the hands of Assad with the aid of the Russians. imo.

7 countries in 5 years.

PNAC, the MIC and weapons dealers, the 'western friendly' corporations that rush in to plunder once regime change has been accomplished, eventually, the WB and IMF predatory loans forced upon them to 'recover', etc. etc.

[newfie11]

5. Very true

And look at the death and misery weve caused.
Meanwhile the worthless lame stream media continues on without reporting the real truth!

[Fred Sanders]

2. It does not "depress" me to see an opinion about Obama being "in the grip of the war mongerers".

The attack by proxy on Clinton, as she moves to extend his legacy to the next phase, utilizing an attack on Obama, is boringly predictable.

That it comes from the left wing rather than the right gives the attack exactly zero more basis in fact or logic.

The Obama attacks are starting far earlier than I predicted from the far left wing, but then I see these are rough times for that part of the political spectrum - and can forgive these super charged and logic-free hyperbole that amount to nothing but helpful fodder for the GOP.

[Fast Walker 52]

10. so you care more about the left-wing being left-wing (anti-war) than about

the actual suffering that Obama and his administration are causing? That's what depresses you?

[DustyJoe]

3. escalation

Why are on earth are we escalating the combat in this horrific conflict

Some believe that the totally inadequate miniscule number of troops (50) being sent after Russia positions thousands of troops are there for only one reason. To attempt to protect the rebels that the US spent hundreds of millions training to overthrow Assad from being further decimated by Russian bombing. Once Russia bombs and kills a few of the US forces then the US administration can call Russia down for targeting the US troops and the administration will hope Russia will be embarassed and pull back. All pipe dreams of course as Russia military leadership under their CIC Putin is 180 degrees opposite the US military command and Russia will put the hammer down 50 US troops or not. Just more cannon fodder for leadership ego stroking, I truly fear for those 50 souls and the lousy reason their lives are on the line and so expendable to our leaders.

[newfie11]

6. Bingo!!!!!!!! Nt

[Fast Walker 52]

9. thanks-- good analysis

I hadn't heard that but makes sense.

[rusty fender]

11. Exactly!

I think you nailed it. The whole situation is very very

[WinkyDink]

4. Mr. Peabody! The POTUS used the Wayback Machine to re-visit 1961!

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/index-1961.html

May 1961 - President Kennedy sends 400 American Green Beret 'Special Advisors' to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese soldiers in methods of 'counter-insurgency' in the fight against Viet Cong guerrillas.

[kentuck]

7. Troops? I thought they said "boots on the ground"?

Does that mean actual troops?

[Fast Walker 52]

8. special forces-- aren't they troops?