The chess match-- US vs Putin.  Putin is supporting Assad against ISIS because they oppose Assad. Meanwhile. We support the Kurds, our best fighting allies in Syria, but the Russians, Turks, and the Syrians have attacked Kurdish troops. Putin is reaching out to Turkey-- a NATO member-- and supports Turkey against the Kurds who are seeking land in Syria, while Turkey's has its own desire for land in Syria along the Turkish border. We have a critically important air force base in Turkey that accommodates our largest bombers, Russia would like Turkey to force us out and have airbases in Turkey, Iran and Syria. Russia also looks to support from Turkey in refusing NATO help for the US in Afghanistan where the Russians have been arming and supporting the Taliban. US military is asking for more NATO and US troops to join the 9,000 troops already there. Taliban, Al Quaeda, and ISIS are growing in Afghanistan. Trump is now considering sending more troops to Afghanistan.