I think the biggest problem is this rubbish about not talking to Iran or Syria. If US admin was serious about anything they say on the subject surely this is the most obvious route to success. Of course this would defeat their whole purpose.

The US admin is certainly expert at manufacturing confusion. But I doubt that they are confused about what they want to achieve. However they may be crackpots. I'm afraid it's over to you US citizens to point this out to voters.