> Not sure where Syria came in. I think it exemplifies the political forces that channel the nation into perpetual war, particularly this latest 18-year phase.

> Not sure where Syria came in. I think it exemplifies the political forces that channel the nation into perpetual war, particularly this latest 18-year phase. It illustrates that the leadership[1] necessary to counteract these forces isn't understood as leadership but as weakness. [1] Namely, taking the reins, cutting our loses, and making as much lemonade out of the lemons as possible (e.g. Iran nuclear deal), rather than fecklessly stumbling crisis to crisis trying to minimize loss of face instead of minimizing loss of credibility.