Carter Says Russian Airstrikes in Syria Didn’t Target ISIS

Efforts by major powers and advanced militaries to control extremism have faltered before – Russia in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the United States after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Americans and Russians alike resent high-cost interventions that result in horrific casualty counts and demonstrate little progress. Some critics would prefer that the international onlookers choose sides and pass out weapons. The United States tried another strategy, training local troops to resist jihadists: The Islamic State easily overtook the trained forces and their weapons, and now controls large sections of Iraq. Meanwhile the Taliban are testing Afghan troops in the provincial capital of Kunduz. The Russians have abruptly moved to conduct airstrikes in Syria, claiming to target the Islamic State, reports Richard Sisk for Military.com. The US protests that rebel-held sites are being hit. The US and Russia disagree about a role for the Assad regime. The unending conflict is contributing to huge numbers of refugees, migration and a legacy of bitterness that aids recruiting efforts by extremists. – YaleGlobal