“To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific Isil targets, I will recommend that to the president.” So said General Martin Dempsey as the U.S. seems on an inevitable march towards putting U.S. boots back on the ground.

+ Matter’s Matthieu Aikins spent seven days on the ground in Syria with the good guys and takes you inside the life and death world of Syria’s first responders: Whoever Saves a Life.