Charles Blow, in yesterday's New York Times, laid out a salient point

about intervening in the Syrian civil war:



Picking sides in other countries' civil wars typically never ends well. It did not end well in Vietnam nor, more recently, in Afghanistan and almost certainly cannot end well in Syria either. This explains why President Obama's decision not to retaliate against Assad in 2013 without prior congressional authorization seems even more eminently wise and prudent. If we attack ISIS, we strengthen Assad. If we attack Assad, we give ISIS a boost.

I strongly recommend the entire Blow piece. It is sobering reading indeed.