usatoday | Since 2013, President Obama has repeatedly vowed that there would be no "boots on the ground" in Syria.
But
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the president's decision
Friday to send up to 50 special forces troops to Syria doesn't change
the fundamental strategy: "This is an important thing for the American
people to understand. These forces do not have a combat mission."
Earnest
said the promises of "no boots on the ground" first came in the context
of removing Syrian President Bashar Assad because of his use of
chemical weapons. Since then, Syria has become a haven for Islamic State
fighters.
Here's a recap of Obama's no-boots pledge:
