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TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

13. My reaction is, what necessitates a ground operation in Syria? We supposedly

Fri Oct 30, 2015, 02:50 PM

Oct 2015

have at least some partners on the ground with Kurds, we worked with them at Kobane. We probably had special forces with them, too, but kept it quiet. But our mission in Syria was simply to keep ISIS from running back and forth over the border from Iraq, deny them a hiding place--that's what was said at the time, last year. What's our mission NOW, and how does Russia and Iran's presence in Syria affect it? The mission should be the focus, not the numbers, really. Do we have vital enough national security interests in Syria that we should begin or increase our ground presence there?

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16 times Obama said there would be no boots on the ground in Syria [View all] grahamhgreen Oct 2015 OP

Obama plays to the Washington Post editorial board's tune. If they don't suddenly lavish him with TwilightGardener Oct 2015 #1

"Those boots won't be on the ground, per se, but on sidewalks and asphalt and stuff" arcane1 Oct 2015 #2

They're going to equip the soldiers with sneakers. (nt) jeff47 Oct 2015 #21

Good vs Evil HassleCat Oct 2015 #3

And the man in the white hat couldn't afford a gun, so he asked all the townspeople to get grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #5

That attitude is not unique to Americans. It is human nature. razorman Oct 2015 #47

Yep, the MIC is jumping for joy, all right. The war machine must be fed. CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2015 #4

He evolved Doctor_J Oct 2015 #6

I'm not pleased with this move at all, but lets keep perspective, its 50 commandos. phleshdef Oct 2015 #7

You think they're telling the truth on numbers and mission? TwilightGardener Oct 2015 #9

Not entirely. But people are acting like we are sending 100k+ troops into Syria or something. phleshdef Oct 2015 #10

My reaction is, what necessitates a ground operation in Syria? We supposedly TwilightGardener Oct 2015 #13

Well its suppose to be an operation to assist in coordination. phleshdef Oct 2015 #25

The operation in Iraq started like that. former9thward Oct 2015 #58

We been at war for 15 friggin years! Escalation has yeilded terrible results. They grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #14

I agree. But this isn't some massive escalation. If/when it becomes one, I will join the choir. phleshdef Oct 2015 #26

Great! How many is too many for you? grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #40

1 is too many for me. I've already implied as much. phleshdef Oct 2015 #43

Me too. I don't see any evidence that our past or future involvement will grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #53

If we don't say anything now the retort will be TBF Oct 2015 #16

And, if that DOES turn out to be the case, I'll temper my own reaction proportionally. phleshdef Oct 2015 #23

As commander in chief, he has little control grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #41

You have no concept of history or of Syria, obviously. morningfog Oct 2015 #27

What? You think he's dumb enough to start with 100,000 troops? No, they know how to sell war. grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #11

Obama is not trying to sell war. phleshdef Oct 2015 #31

Well, no--what he's trying to do is conduct something on the sly and TwilightGardener Oct 2015 #38

Your buying it;) grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #42

Yeah, it was just a couple dozen advisors in Viet Nam, too......in the beginning. dixiegrrrrl Oct 2015 #15

Also they lied - TBF Oct 2015 #18

My husband was one of the "advisors" dixiegrrrrl Oct 2015 #20

It was probably easier in those days to deny TBF Oct 2015 #30

I get that point but lets not assume it will go that far just because that was the Vietnam case. phleshdef Oct 2015 #29

Broken promises about use of military in the ME are continuing to this day. dixiegrrrrl Oct 2015 #59

What FUCKING bullshit. Remember when reentry to Iraq was "just 250?" morningfog Oct 2015 #24

Yet, Iraq still has not escalated to anything significant in terms of troop numbers. phleshdef Oct 2015 #28

3,500 with regular increases and no end in sight. It is significant. morningfog Oct 2015 #36

What's the mission? grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #50

Fuck if I know. I'm not okay with it, I will reiterate again. phleshdef Oct 2015 #52

Pertinent question: dixiegrrrrl Oct 2015 #61

Okay, objective fact: 50 commandos gratuitous Oct 2015 #32

Who are going in to figure out who we're arming and plan what to do when more arrive. LeftyMom Nov 2015 #67

Is Mr. Obama just trying to Wellstone ruled Oct 2015 #8

Reminds me of the guy caught beating his wife. Police come to his house, yet he insists he must grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #12

you speak as though the US has noble intentioms and we just screw up FlatBaroque Oct 2015 #19

Do remember a statement made by a Wellstone ruled Oct 2015 #46

No, but I remember Alan Greenspan admitting it was all for oil. grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #51

For God's sake when are we going to get to spend some money on domestic programs instead of war? liberal_at_heart Oct 2015 #17

Never. Aerows Oct 2015 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Oct 2015 #22

All of those were said before Russia got involved Blue_Tires Oct 2015 #33

That only makes it even more stupid and a hell of a lot more dangerous. TheKentuckian Oct 2015 #60

Exactly. The thought that we'd go to war with Russia over Bushs blunder in Iraq is nuts. grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #62

So we're just supposed to pack up and leave? Concede the entire region to Putin? Blue_Tires Nov 2015 #65

It is not ours to concede and Syria is not the entire region. TheKentuckian Nov 2015 #66

Lets just replay the '60's newblewtoo Oct 2015 #34

He's prohibited by law from running for re-election Dale Scott Oct 2015 #37

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/ AngryAmish Oct 2015 #39

Really colsohlibgal Oct 2015 #44

"What I tell you 17 times is true." KamaAina Oct 2015 #45

I'm so old I can remember when this was popular Fumesucker Oct 2015 #48

I don't think it is that egregious for him to change his mind as circumstances change Skittles Oct 2015 #49

*shrug* what are we gonna do? not vote Dems because they happen to be warmongers MisterP Oct 2015 #54

Yeah, but the 17th is a charm. nt valerief Oct 2015 #55

Weird timing. moondust Oct 2015 #56

What would that message be? grahamhgreen Oct 2015 #57

Before negotiating an agreement moondust Oct 2015 #63

K&R + bobthedrummer Oct 2015 #64