That the U.S. president announced his plan to cede Syria to Vladimir Putin had to be deeply unsettling for those three countries, which are under continuous threat from Russia. But they are certainly not alone. America’s friends and foes alike must be asking themselves what kind of country cedes Iraq to Iran in a catastrophic, ill-planned war; abandons that country in 2011 after returning a semblance of order; sits idly by while 500,000 Syrians are slaughtered; allows, through inaction and neglect, for the rise of the Islamic State; and belatedly crushes the Islamic State’s dream of a thousand-year caliphate — only to once again move to abandon the region, thereby empowering the Islamic State, Iran, Russia and the murderous Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
After years of endless bloodshed, the U.S. military has finally learned to fight an enemy such as the Islamic State in a way that is successful and sustainable. The impact of that winning strategy is being felt around the region, and among U.S. troops. On Friday, The Post’s David Ignatius movingly reported on the emotional stake U.S. service members have invested in their fight against the terrorist group. Despite our long list of tragic missteps in Iraq, the troops Ignatius followed believe they are part of a meaningful mission.
“Contributing to something greater than yourself is very important,” a military surgeon explained. “It’s an honor for us to be here.”
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