Over the last few days, we've heard some confusing messages from the executive branch. Defense Secretary Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dempsey sounded pretty hawkish but then Gen Dempsey put his hawk back in the cage by saying ISIS did not present an immediate threat to the US.. 

The bottom line is that we are confused, especially after reading stories like these from the UK:

"Barack Obama has paved the way for airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria after spy planes started operating in the country on his command, according to U.S officials.   

While the White House says military action inside Syria has not yet been approved, additional intelligence on the militants is considered vital before any move can be made - especially in the northern city of Raqqa, which ISIS has named the capital of its self-declared caliphate.   

The move comes despite warnings from Syria's embattled president Bashar Assad that any airstrike in the country not given his express permission would be considered an act of aggression.  

Obama has so far sought a limited military campaign in neighbouring Iraq focused on protecting American diplomats and Iraqi civilians under direct threat from the brutal Islamist militant group. 

But officials have not ruled out escalating military action against ISIS, which has increased its overt threats against the United States in recent weeks."

So President Obama is ready for an escalation? Wouldn't it be nice if President Obama told the American people his plans?

I have never seen a more "aloof" president than President Obama. I recall President Bush-41 and President Bush-43  preparing the nation for the war coming ahead. In 1990, President Bush-41 persuaded a reluctant public that Iraq invading Kuwait was bad for all of us.  President Bush-43 spoke about Iraq at the UN and throughout the country.  

Why isn't President Obama doing something similar? Doesn't he understand that presidents have to explain national security issues to the nation?

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