The U.S. Slip-slides Towards War in Syria

The United States seems poised to enter the civil war in Syria. So-called “limited operations” to destroy the Islamic State are morphing into a campaign likely to bring clashes with three nations purportedly seeking the same goal: Syria, Iran and Russia.

Why would we risk such a potentially far-reaching conflict? After all, Candidate Donald Trump expressly foreswore the idea of embroiling the United States in another war in the Mideast.

Worse, Mr. Trump is being urged to break that promise in order to support so-called “Syrian moderates.” Never mind that, by and large, these “rebels’” goals – if not in every case their tactics – are indistinguishable from those of the Islamic State’s jihadists.

The next step will be for President Trump to inject significant ground forces into Syria’s fratricidal conflict.  All I can say is, literally “Don’t go there, Mr. President.