Dominant Social Theme: US peacemakers are to withdraw from enemy combat zones as soon as possible, or at least within the next decade or two. Free-Market Analysis: Barack Obama seems destined to leave the country as he found it ... at war. The changes in policy are coming hard and fast now. In Afghanistan, the US is going to leave 5,000 troops on the ground indefinitely. In Iraq, US troops are reportedly facing off against ISIS. In Syria – even worse – the Pentagon has basically announced that US troops are going to go where they haven't been before – right into Syria to "advise and assist" and carry out raids. Here's more: The timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan was torn up two weeks ago. But the roughly 5,000 US soldiers who will remain after the end of next year won't be involved in direct combat, the White House says. It says the same about the 3,500 who are still in Iraq as "trainers" and "advisers". As for Syria, the US will continue to support "moderate" forces fighting Isis with air support, arms and training, only.