ISIS delenda est

[Hollyw00d]

Ok I'll start...

Maybe right now we can say ISIS is "contained" territory-wise. They're not really advancing. So they've turned their attention to terrorism, in an effort to intimidate their enemies. The "containment" strategy is not working. ISIS will not stop. Ever. They have to be destroyed.

I'm not a military expert but it seems clear to me they need to be dealt a few serious setbacks. Currently they're spread out in the region, so we're nibbling at them here and there. "Containment." There needs to be a ground force to make them move into a more concentrated group where they can be wiped out with air power. I'm sure the military planners know exactly how to do this if they were given the resources.

Right now everyone wants to fly around where it's relatively safe, and drop bombs. Somehow we need to compel the countries in the region to engage ISIS on the ground. We need to turn up the heat politically on those countries.

Of course they would have support from a coalition of Western countries. I wouldn't be in favor of sending large numbers of U.S. troops. We would have to send some troops for specialized support. Then we give ISIS a series of bloody noses and damage their brand. There's no way they can prevail against a serious ground force. They have no air power at all.

In the first Gulf War the coalition flew over 100,000 sorties: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War_air_campaign

So far against ISIS we've flown about 7,800: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/world/middleeast/as-us-escalates-air-war-on-isis-allies-slip-away.html?_r=0

It's just not enough.

You've been playing too much call of duty

[Crampknees]

What confuses me is ISIS gets all this media play of them jumping up and down with ski masks on, cutting off heads, driving a line of 200 Toyota pickups and while we are droning should we just not see a burning hole in the ground. I am not sure what is real or not anymore. 

[Jay]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-15/smashing-islamic-state-after-paris-attacks-poses-huge-challenges

 

yep

[Hollyw00d]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-15/smashing-islamic-state-after-paris-attacks-poses-huge-challenges

So a bunch of current and former military officials think we need to jump headlong into war. Shocking.

Also there is/will be no "coalition." None of the other ME countries are interested in dealing with this, and some are actively helping their cause.

[Jay]

Also there is/will be no "coalition." None of the other ME countries are interested in dealing with this, and some are actively helping their cause.

 

The fact that you are so sure of this gives me hope.

[Hollyw00d]

Ok.

Prove me otherwise

[Caralho]

Then it's going to be very slow going with our current strategy. The quote about the state system being completely broken is pretty much correct. And without that, I don't know what you do to solve that. Do you think the coalition should withdraw? I mean that's appealing as hell to me too but that would likely mean ISIS gains a lot of ground. It's just confusing as hell and the people we need most to help us are remarkably stupid. 

[Hollyw00d]

Then let ISIS gain ground. Let them get right up to Iran and Saudi Arabia's front yard and force them to take action.

This magical coalition that jay thinks will be formed when we "turn up the heat" (whatever that means), is wishful thinking. At best it would be an Iraq war II "coalition" made up of 90% US forces and about 1000 troops total from 10 different countries

[Hollyw00d]

Hell, let Israel take care of them. They've stolen enough of our weapons and technology that they should be able to handle it. And we provide more than enough funding for them. They also hate brown people enough to take action.

Good luck, Benny!

Edited November 15, 2015 by Hollyw00d

[Jay]

Ok.

Prove me otherwise

 

It's not for me to prove. We just have to see how it plays out.

[Hollyw00d]

Hmmmm now THIS is interesting

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/10/21/breaking-story-israeli-general-captured-in-iraq-confesses-to-israel-isis-coalition/

[Hollyw00d]

It's not for me to prove. We just have to see how it plays out.

It was your plan.

Follow through, Cochise.

[Blarg]

Cochise was a very successful general of the Apache tribe.

[Hollyw00d]

You're right.

Maybe that's too lofty of a nickname for jay

[Adam]

the region would never permit Israel to take care of ISIS

[Tank]

So a bunch of current and former military officials think we need to jump headlong into war. Shocking.

Also there is/will be no "coalition." None of the other ME countries are interested in dealing with this, and some are actively helping their cause.

 

jordan sent their bombers to hit ISIS targets after one of their own was tortured and killed. i think he was the one that was burned inside a cage. other countries have spoken out against ISIS but i'm not sure what any of them have done outside of local resistance here and there.

 

it's possible to build a coalition, but it won't be easy.

[mtangelsfan]

Hollywood's douche quotient is high right now.

[Hollyw00d]

My opinions being different than yours = douche

Sounds like something a con would say

[nate]

Mexican drug cartels kill hundreds just across our border to the south and you guys don't give a shit, but ISIS is all you care about.

 

Guns kill more in a month than this ISIS attack killed and yet once again all you care about is ISIS.  In fact, we have killed more innocent people in our ME wars than ISIS killed, but once again you want to go after ISIS.

 

I don't get it.  Bring the troops home and defend our borders.  Let France go after ISIS (like they have).  We can help if they request it.

[Hollyw00d]

jordan sent their bombers to hit ISIS targets after one of their own was tortured and killed. i think he was the one that was burned inside a cage. other countries have spoken out against ISIS but i'm not sure what any of them have done outside of local resistance here and there.

it's possible to build a coalition, but it won't be easy.

Saudi Arabia is helping ISIS

Turkey is helping ISIS

Israel would like.nothing more than to see the Arab countries tear.themselves apart

Iran wants no part of it, and certainly is not going to help us.

Who's left? Russia? LOL

[mtangelsfan]

My opinions being different than yours = douche

Sounds like something a con would say

Please, plenty of people have differing opinions in this thread and on this forum in general. You just seem to be the only one acting like those who disagree with you pissed in your cereal.

[Hollyw00d]

I really only have a problem with one person.

Everyone else I have been completely civil. Too bad you can't recognize that

[nate]

the region would never permit Israel to take care of ISIS

 

It would be the quickest way to stomp ISIS.  Problem is Israel doesn't have much regard for collateral damage.

[fan_since79]

In another fit of good timing, Obama just earmarked $700 million in additional aid to the rebels in Syria.

 

I wonder how many of those weapons will just happen to fall into the hands of ISIS.

 

Really, are ISIS and the other Islamic rebels better than Assad?

[Hollyw00d]

Gotta make those weapons deals and feed the military beast, their stock prices aren't going to raise themselves