The Huffington Post quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Associate Director Alex Ward on presidential politics and foreign policy, and in particular how presidential candidates have framed discussions of ISIS:
“Nobody wants to be seen advocating for a new Iraq War. It’s politically toxic,” Alex Ward, an analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank, told The Huffington Post.
At the same time, there’s “a realization that in order to defeat ISIS, a lot of time would be needed. No candidate wants to be seen as willing to start a long-term struggle versus a terrorist group, as the general voter doesn’t have the stomach for another Middle East sojourn,” continued Ward.
Focusing on rhetoric rather than policy allows 2016 candidates to score political points without having to float ideas that might expand the conversation about ISIS but also cost them support.