Hayes: Obama still not 'serious about eliminating ISIS and removing Assad'

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Hayes on White House Syria Mission

Steve Hayes told viewers Friday that the administration's plan to put Special Operations forces on the ground is Syria still does not show the President is

Steve Hayes told viewers Friday on "Special Report with Bret Baier" that the Obama administration's plan to put several dozen Special Operations forces on the ground is Syria still does not show that the president is "serious about eliminating ISIS and removing [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad."

The White House announced Friday that less than 50 U.S. forces would be moving into Syria to help train and assist local fighters.

"We know what it looks like when the United States wants to eliminate an enemy. That's not what this looks like," Hayes, a Weekly Standard columnist and Fox News contributor, said, adding that "they can be the most effective people in the world at what they do, and 50 of them won't make a substantive difference."

The White House refuted assertions that the move would constitute mission creep, claiming that though the troops could find themselves near the front lines of the battlefield, they are serving in a non-combat role.

"I think Josh Earnest is probably technically right, that this isn't a change of strategy. Because there is no strategy," Hayes said. "By definition, you can't change something that you don't have."

Hayes also cited concerns about the U.S. becoming involved with Russian efforts in Syria.

"I find it ironic that the administration is partnering with Russia on this," Hayes said. "We're sending many, many mixed signals - none of them suggest that the United States has any resolve with respect to Russia, Syria, Iran or the broader campaign in the region."