Respectfully, HJ; I don't wish to criticize Obama in error, the Turks and the Iranians do that, at least, those who push propaganda. ISIS has many roots; that's undeniable.
But I think this Arab writer gives a good perspective on things.
On the American role in Syria’s hell
26/12/2016
In an interesting interview published Wednesday in the London-based daily Al-Hayat, former American Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford – who still held this post when the Syrian revolution erupted – revealed a lot of information about the US and how it dealt with the Syrian problem during President Barack Obama’s term.
Ford left his post as envoy to Syria two years ago. What attracted my attention in his interview, which was carried out after the recent massacres in Aleppo, is how he noted that what’s happening in Syria is in attempt by Iran and its Shiite militias from across the world to achieve “ethnic change in the country” through the aid of Russian military tyranny.
...
These statements must be made, and they will be reiterated here later. It’s true that Assad, Khamenei and Vladimir Putin prevented establishing a national opposition and preferred, for obvious reasons, that all opposition parties be marked as either ISIS or al-Qaeda, however, this does not exonerate the Syrian opposition from bearing its national and historic duty.
In the end, I think the biggest sin is that of the Obama administration.
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=57801
See, many of the people over there really expected the US to come in and police the situation.
As many here will say, that is not our job.
Things though, got botched up big time.
Gen Shenseki said way back in '03; we needed a bigger presence and per Larry Elder's writings above, we were foolish to pull out so much in '11. But not wanting American soldiers in harm's way is understandable to a degree.
So, it really is an issue as to how much one was willing to commit. Not a question to take lightly.
