Barbaric ISIS behavior finally brings American attention to the urgency of destroying Islamic extremists and support Syrian rebels

"...put lawmakers on the record for the first time approving U.S. engagement in the years-long Syrian civil war."

It's difficult to understand how Americans are only now responding to the barbaric beheading of innocent journalists and humanitarian workers, because those who were executed were captured because they were bringing awareness to Syrian refugees. These victims were trying to educate the world about Syrian humanitarian tragedies resulting from that nation's civil war. Nevertheless, finally, the US Congress is responding to the evil ISIS beheadings, but it took the disgustingly barbaric act of at least three executions before Americans united behind Congressional efforts to destroy the terrorists. President Assad put noxious gas on innocent civilians and children in Syria, but that didn't seem to rise to the level of responding to barbarism, as far as Congress and the American public was concerned. Moreover, Syrian Christians are being persecuted and religious shrines destroyed. Unfortunately, these heinous acts weren't enough, either. Instead, barbaric acts of beheading innocent people finally got Americans attention.

The House on Wednesday approved President Obama’s plan to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels, to counter the growing threat of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, even though lawmakers in both parties remain deeply skeptical about its chances for success.

Congress put the US one step closer to authorizing the third prolonged U.S. military operation in Iraq, in the last quarter century, and delivered Obama's much-needed domestic political support, as he seeks an international coalition to combat the growing threat of Islamist terrorism in the Middle East. It also put lawmakers on the record for the first time approving U.S. engagement in the years-long Syrian civil war.

But the tally — 273 to 156 — also revealed widespread misgivings about the chances of success for the plan, even among many lawmakers who voted in favor of it.

Obama’s proposal was opposed by more than 40 percent of Democrats, many of whom are concerned that new U.S. military operations in the Middle East could fester for several years with no clear strategy or definition of success.

Republicans provided the lion’s share of support, but many are worried about the limits of Obama's early plans. One top GOP leader suggested Congress could go as far as giving the president blanket military authority, even if Obama doesn’t want it, when the lawmakers hold a much broader debate after the November elections about the fight against Islamic terrorists.

Obama on Wednesday repeated his promise not to send combat forces into the military campaign against the Islamic State, telling troops in a speech at MacDill Air Force Base outside Tampa that he will “not commit you fighting another ground war in Iraq.”