WAR ON ISIS - Syria, On the Ground and Diplomacy

"U.S. steps up military involvement against IS in Syria as Kerry meets for diplomatic talks" PBS NewsHour 10/30/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The White House confirmed that U.S. commandos are going into Northern Syria as part of a coalition aimed at dismantling the Islamic State, marking a shift from President Obama's previous stance against committing ground troops.  Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry attended talks on finding a diplomatic solution in Syria.  Judy Woodruff learns more from Greg Jaffe of The Washington Post.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  The United States steps up its mission in Syria, part of a coalition aimed at dismantling the Islamic State, as leaders from the U.S., Russia, and Iran meet in Vienna trying to find a political end to the civil war.

Confirmation that commandos are going into Northern Syria came at the day’s White House briefing.

JOSH EARNEST, White House Press Secretary:  The core of our military strategy inside of Syria is to build up the capacity of local forces.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  Spokesman Josh Earnest gave few details on whether the U.S. effort will aid Kurdish or Arab fighters or both.

JOSH EARNEST:  The President did make a decision to intensify that support by offering a small number of U.S. special operations military personnel to offer them some advice and assistance on the ground as they take the fight to ISIL.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  That small number, Earnest said, is fewer than 50.  And he insisted they will not be on a combat mission.

JOSH EARNEST:  The responsibility that they have is not to lead the charge to take a hill.  It still means that they’re in a dangerous situation.  It still means that they will have all of the equipment that they need to protect themselves if necessary.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  U.S. special operations troops have conducted raids inside Syria, but this will be their first sustained presence.  It comes amid Russia’s month-old air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  And it marks a shift for President Obama.  He had said repeatedly he wouldn’t commit ground troops in Syria.

The military developments came as Secretary of State John Kerry was in Vienna for talks on a diplomatic solution in Syria.  There was no agreement on the future of Assad, but the U.S., Russia and other nations directed the U.N. to try again to bring Syria’s government and opposition groups to the table.

"Will U.S. military and diplomatic efforts help resolve the Syrian war?" PBS NewsHour 10/30/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  How significant is the Obama administration decision to send special forces into Syria to help combat the Islamic State?  And how does the move impact diplomatic efforts to end the war?  Judy Woodruff gets reaction from Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma and Michael McFaul of Stanford University.