re: How would arming rebels in Syria have stopped ISIS?

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Do you dispute that, had US military forces remained in Iraq, ISIL would not have conquered most of Iraq?

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Depends on the number. McCain seemed to be saying that it was possible to leave 3K. And it would have been a group for advising and training, not really boots on the ground. I think such a small force would have been an attractive target for ISIS.

It would be McCain's stronger point, but I am not completely sold on it... I think that we would have needed a larger force including "boots" and that would have been costly in so many ways.

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McCain's weaker point is that arming some rebel faction in Syria would have destroyed ISIL. But, how can you logically bash McCain alone for this idea when Obama just last night said that the USA was going to plan to arm some rebel faction in Syria ?

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That is the one part of Obama's new plan that I am not in agreement with. I don't think it was the best idea a few years ago, and I don't think it is today either.