The option is claimed to provide U.S. commanders on the ground greater flexibility to quickly respond to unforeseen opportunities and challenges on the battlefield.

U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, doubt the country's military will advocate moving away from relying on local forces to do most of the fighting, and dying, in Syria and Iraq.

Canadians are less concerned about the threat of terrorism than our neighbours in other countries, according to a new Ipsos poll.