“If we, the West, step in beyond a supporting role - it will vindicate ISIS. ISIS, according to what I heard, is an Apocalyptic cult. If they can draw in the West, they will create the Apocalypse they desire. They will also draw sympathy to their cause because they will control the narrative and it's the same narrative that some here in the US are trying to propagate. The West vs. Islam.”
Exactly.
And the actions taken by ISIS – the beheadings, the burnings, and the propaganda videos – are specificity designed to lure Western nations, the United States in particular, into the conflict.
The president is indeed correct, and those who advocate sending American ground forces to 'defeat' ISIS are very much wrong.
I don't think Obama wants to tackle any problems he doesn't create himself.
If anyone wants to get away with anything now is the time. He's not gonna do anything. They could nuke Israel and he'd rationalise that worse things were done by Christians.
They could blow up NYC and he'd find an excuse not to act. He'd promise to bring the guilty to justice, then tee-off.