The U.S. Is Trying To Avoid Stumbling Into A Wider War

New York Times editorial: Stumbling Into a Wider War

It should come as no surprise that the United States and its coalition partners are discussing widening the war against the Islamic State beyond the borders of Iraq and Syria. Wider wars have become almost habitual in recent years, as military conflicts have expanded with little public awareness or debate. President George W. Bush’s “war on terror” began in Afghanistan, then moved to Iraq and elsewhere. Fourteen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Obama is still deploying American troops and weapons to fight Al Qaeda and other extremists in far-flung parts of the world, including Pakistan.

The fight against the Islamic State has focused largely on Iraq and Syria, where the group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has seized large swaths of land and established a firm presence. But some regional members of the anti-ISIS coalition of more than 60 nations, according to a report in The Times, are now pressing the administration to carry the fight to other terrorist groups that have declared themselves “provinces” of the Islamic State.

WNU Editor: I have been following wars and conflicts for years .... and I have lost count on how many conflicts the U.S. is currently involved in. Trying your best to avoid stumbling into a wider war when you are already involved in dozens of small ones .... that does not give me any comfort.