A Shaky Start to the Latest War on Terror

As high-tech aerial weaponry rains down on Syria and Iraq, the medieval Islamic State, or ISIS, is not just holding on but threatening to take new territory. ISIS artillery is in range of the Baghdad airport. A Syrian city on the border with Turkey is at risk of falling. Elsewhere, airstrikes may be creating a backlash. Meantime, as the US tries to hold a coalition together, Vice President Biden is apologizing for having accused some allies of fueling the extremists. We’ll look at the early days of America’s latest offensive in the Middle East. Is there a coherent strategy? What would constitute “victory” or “defeat?”

Also the Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage, and Las Vegas is up while Atlantic City is down.

Banner Image: Turkish army tanks take up position on the Turkish-Syrian border near the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province October 6, 2014. Outgunned Kurdish fighters vowed on Monday not to abandon their increasingly desperate efforts to defend the Syrian border town of Kobani from Islamic State militants pressing in from three sides and pounding them with heavy artillery. Despite the heavy fighting, which has seen mortars rain down on residential areas in Kobani and stray fire hit Turkish territory, a Reuters reporter saw around 30 people cross over from Turkey, apparently to help with defence of the town. REUTERS/Umit Bektas