McCain is an idiot...

[zitothebrave]

I know so many things about Iraq and Syria.

[Hawk]

Great kebab.

[zitothebrave]

Great kebab.

I seriously could go on for hours on it but it's all been said before. ISIL is Al Qaeda part 2. We trained them we funded them we did it all. Sure not directly but certainly indirectly.

[Julio3000]

The Saudis and the other Gulf states essentially pay off the bad guys to create trouble anywhere other than inside their borders. As long as we're snuggling up to them, as we have for the past 40+ years, we're contributing to the problem.

[zitothebrave]

The Saudis and the other Gulf states essentially pay off the bad guys to create trouble anywhere other than inside their borders. As long as we're snuggling up to them, as we have for the past 40+ years, we're contributing to the problem.

Yup. And many other issues. Some ISIL leaders were trained by the Israelis. Could go on. US is awesome at proxy terrorism.

[50PoundHead]

Although it seems easy to lump troop withdrawal and the notion of a residual force into the same category, the two are not mutually exclusive.

The Obama administration attempted to negotiate a force, but the Maliki government would not guarantee immunity for our troops. So Biden (who was point man) relented and the rest is recent history.

Also, if you actually think that our 'arming' of Syrian rebels single-handedly propelled ISIL to where they are now then you grossly misunderstand the situation in Iraq.

Not single-handedly of course, but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king and ISIL (glad you use that acronym) has 20/20 vision on their goal.

[Dalyn]

This is too harsh. He's turned it around a little in the second half.

[Hawk]

Some ISIL leaders were trained by the Israelis. Could go on. US is awesome at proxy terrorism.

And the bastard who beheaded Foley and Sotloff was probably born, educated, and indoctrinated in the United Kingdom.

What's your point?

ISIL is Al Qaeda part 2.

Because it is an off-shoot of Al-Qaeda extremists.

The 'JV team' as Obama eloquently put it.

[Julio3000]

This is too harsh. He's turned it around a little in the second half.

I read this the exact same way.

[Hawk]

[The Chosen One]

I read this the exact same way.

Sucks I don't get the reference.

[Julio3000]

Sucks I don't get the reference.