Obama outlines plans to deafeat ISIL; Middle East expert fears open-ended military engagement in region

Colorado College political science professor David Hendrickson believes the American people changed their minds about going to war at the moment video surfaced from ISIS showing the beheadings of two American journalists.

“The fact that public opinion changed with the beheadings of the journalists is disturbing because once they [the American people] see the effects of an expanded war they may recall why they became disaffected with the Iraq War in the first place,” Hendrickson said. “Any expansion of the war is going to mean a lot of death of others, potential of collateral damage.”

Depending on the length of this engagement in the Middle East, Hendrickson said it could have an impact on both Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy.

“Fort Carson likely won’t bare the brunt of it,” he said. “But any time the United States commits itself to go to war, Colorado Springs is likely to have some kind of involvement.”