Anytime I read an article purporting to discuss the president’s views and actions, I first check to see if it’s satire. Reading what Obama says is like reading Mad Magazine or The Onion. Our problem in Syria is that Assad winning is the best possible outcome. But Assad has already been picked as an ally by Russia. Historically, we have to be on the other side from Russia. But it’s like a game where our opponent has already picked the best player. Given that view the best option is not to play in Syria. That leaves the Kurds and, possibly, some Iraqis. But the Shias have already been picked by Iran. (Oops!)
Back to the Kurds.
This is why Obama picked General Allen to head up the effort.
In the Iraq surge of 2007/2008 he was the general working to shift the Sunni to support the central govt. Obama gave him the same job in Afghanistan trying to shift the Taliban. Obama ended up with the same team in Afghanistan that Bush had in Iraq: General Petraeus, General Allen, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
General Allen had been picked to take the top NATO job but got caught up in the womanizing and had to retire. But, commissioned officers serve at the pleasure of the prez so Obama kept him on in Afghanistan and now gives him the top job in Iraq.