Obama goes to war (sort of) against ISIS: 'This effort will not involve American troops fighting on foreign soil'

Last night, the U.S. President made it clear his military will rain down on ISIS from the heavens, promising formidable air power and avoiding a ground war, but also plunging into the conflict he had until now avoided - Syria's brutal civil war. Already analysts predict this is a fight Barack Obama will be passing on to his successor in the White House.

We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq. If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven ... But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American troops fighting on foreign soil. This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power, and our support for partners' forces on the ground.U.S. President Barack Obama from his address last night.

• Obama's ISIS strategy speech: Did he meet expectations? -- CBC News

U.S. President Barack Obama struggled for six years to keep the US out of foreign wars. But last night, he sized up the threat posed by ISIS and gave the go-ahead for air strikes in Iraq and Syria. He also announced money and training to help re-build the Iraqi national army along with support for  so-called moderate opposition fighters in Syria.

Canada already has special forces soldiers in Iraq and plans to send more over to work with Kurdish fighters in the country's north. President Obama however made it clear there will be no American boots on the ground.

For their thoughts on what this all means and where it may be headed, we were joined by three guests:

Sam Gardiner is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel who has taught military strategy at the National War College, Air War College and Naval War College.

Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and the author of Before & After: US Foreign Policy and the September 11th Crisis.

Patrick Graham is a Canadian freelance writer who has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. He covered the initial days of the war in Iraq and spent a year living in and around Fallujah and Ramadi among the insurgents fighting American forces.

What are your thoughts on Obama's plan and this discussion?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Gord Westmacott, Peter Mitton and Ines Colabrese.