There are times when doors close on options. Bombing Assad when he is surrounded by Russians is inviting a hot conflict we don't need. Syria isn't worth it.
What we need a plan for is what happens if ISIS ceases to be an organized fighting force? Are Putin and Assad going to turn all of their attentions towards groups the US supports? My guess would be yes, because they are already attacking those groups. If we don't have a plan l, we end up with two bad choices. Cutting and running, or a fight with the Russians. I have no doubt we could wipe out the Russian contingent in Syria, but the long term affects would directly shift the course of US foreign policy for at least a decade.
“Are Putin and Assad going to turn all of their attentions towards groups the US supports? “
Sure hope so. they are low life salafist sunni jihadis.
“I have no doubt we could wipe out the Russian contingent in Syria, but the long term affects would directly shift the course of US foreign policy for at least a decade”
So we attack and wipe out all the Russian forces in Syria. Which I agree we could do. But sinking ships. downing planes, bombing bases, etc..... and you think it would “shift the course of US foreign policy for a decade”
Utterly insane. I stand amazed at how many people actually seem to want a war with Russia, and think they will just accept it and move on.
The comical part is that its all to help a bunch of anti Christian goat humpers like the Orlando shooter to depose Assad who isn’t really such a bad guy in the middle east. The only thing wrong with him is that he doesn’t dance to the Saudi sunni tune.
But of course, wars are cool and fun! We should move beyond needing a national interest to get in one. And we should expand to nuclear superpowers.