Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Obscure wars: American airstrikes in Syria

America quickly lost its attention span with the ongoing war in Syria.

SYRIA-CONFLICT
SYRIA-CONFLICT
A Syrian man reacts while standing on the rubble of his house while others look for survivors and bodies in the Tariq al-Bab district of the northern city of Aleppo on February 23, 2013. Three surface-to-surface missiles fired by Syrian regime forces in Aleppo's Tariq al-Bab district have left 58 people dead, among them 36 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on February 24. AFP PHOTO/PABLO TOSCO (Photo credit should read Pablo Tosco/AFP/Getty Images)

I think that the current American war in Syria is the most obscure conflict we’ve had since the Dakota War of 1862, in Minnesota. We’ve flown 10 airstrikes there in the last few days. Did any interrupt our breakfasts?

I think that the current American war in Syria is the most obscure conflict we’ve had since the Dakota War of 1862, in Minnesota. We’ve flown 10 airstrikes there in the last few days. Did any interrupt our breakfasts?

Why is this so? I dunno. Obviously 13 years of war has eroded the American attention span. But is it something more than this? I mean, people just don’t give a flying peep.

Pablo Tosco/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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