"Take 'em out" is a favored refrain of the Republican primary candidates. The 'em in that headline is ISIS in Iraq and Syria. President Obama has offered a number of reasons why that will not happen with U.S. boots on the ground. Paul Pillar reviews the various Republican claims and Obama's somewhat cautious rejoinders. Pillar does us the favor of analyzing why the Republicans don't know what they're talking about and Obama, perhaps through an excess of political caution, is rather quietly saying why that won't work, and won't happen at least on his watch.  A cautionary tale for the season of peace!

Pillar's take at LobLog.    "ISIS and the Take-Out Myth"