The thing about mission creep is that it has a slow evolution and then, all at once, you realize what is on your hands. Here’s how the Obama administration has told the tale. It first began by saying the United States was just going to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State, no boots on the ground. Well, okay, there are Special Forces in Iraq, but they have no combat roles, but Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler happened to die during a October raid to free prisoners. A few days later, and the Obama administration sent Special Forces to Syria.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter described what these American boots in Syria were doing against the Islamic State at a Wednesday speech at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. “Through even a small number of these highly trained operators,” Carter said, “the full might of America’s airstrikes, intelligence, logistics and know-how can be relentlessly focused on the enemy.”

These troops even had a well-defined strategy for carrying out America’s “military campaign” — a stunning phrase coming from Obama’s defense secretary. First, American forces would work to dismantle Islamic State strongholds in Raqqah and Mosul. Then, American military will work on eradicating the Islamic State franchises popping up across the world. Finally, Carter said, the military would “protect the homeland.”

During his State of the Union Address, Obama first outlined what he directed the troops to do against the Islamic State, and then asked Congress for an Authorization for Use of Military Force. Reason’s Jesse Walker said it best when he wrote that the commander in chief is essentially telling Congress, “Please authorize what I’m already doing.” And Obama pretended he didn’t want this kind of overreach of power.