Would US Airstrikes In Syria Lead To American 'Boots On Ground'? -- Peter Grier, Christian Science Monitor
Airstrikes against Syria could lead to unintended consequences in that country's civil war, skeptics say, and draw US ground troops into a larger conflict. That's also the concern of much of the American public, polls show.
A main worry of opponents of a US attack on Syria can be summed up in four words: “boots on the ground.”
Skeptics say initial American airstrikes might be limited, but they could well produce unintended consequences in Syria’s civil war, inevitably drawing US and allied ground troops into a larger conflict.
This view is held by a solid majority of US residents, according to a new Pew Research poll. Seventy-four percent of respondents to the Pew survey said US airstrikes would lead to a backlash against the United States and its allies in the region. Another 61 percent judged airstrikes likely to lead to a long-term military commitment in Syria.
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My Comment: They may say one thing publicly .... but I am sure that the administration knows privately that they cannot make a promise of "no boots on the ground". John Glaser is right .... On Syria, don't trust Obama's 'no boots on the ground' promise. In fact ... I would say that U.S. air strikes will guarantee US boots on the ground .... and they will be conducting combat operations.