ISIS
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Bombing is a quick fix and like most quick fixes, they rapidly fail. That said I think we as a nation have to decide whether we want to go back in and finish the job. If we do then do it right. Come up with reasonable rules of engagement. Recognize there will be civilian casualties, once you deploy the troops, then don't sit at home and start pulling the rug out from under them by announcing tactics , timetables and other critical information. Recognize no one on the other side is in uniform so when they say so many civilians were killed, prove it. I was too old for the current festivities, but not for Viet Nam and I do know that the combatants were of all ages, sex and description. We tried to avoid collateral damage but if they are shooting at you then they are probably hostile. In short as was said many years ago, by a man much smarter than I:
A great general, Lucius Macedonicus, made a statement—at least it was attributed to him. He called it, or someone later called it, “Come with Me to Macedonia.” It is a great statement and one that has impressed me greatly, with its many hidden truths. He said:
Commanders should be counselled chiefly by persons of known talent, by those who have made the art of war their particular study, and whose knowledge is derived from experience, by those who are present at the scene of action, who see the enemy, who see the advantages that occasions offer, and who, like people embarked in the same ship, are sharers of the danger.
If, therefore, anyone thinks himself qualified to give advice respecting the war which I am about to conduct, let him not refuse his assistance to the state, but let him come with me into Macedonia.
He shall be furnished with a ship, a tent; even his travelling charges will be defrayed, but if he thinks this too much trouble, and prefers the repose of a city life to the toils of war, let him not on land assume the office of a pilot. The city in itself furnishes abundance of topics for conversation; let it confine its passion for talking to its own precincts and rest assured that we shall pay no attention to any counsel but such as shall be framed within our camp. [General Lucius Aemilius Paulus, surnamed Macedonicus, Roman general and patrician, c. 229-160 B.C.]
A great general, Lucius Macedonicus, made a statement—at least it was attributed to him. He called it, or someone later called it, “Come with Me to Macedonia.” It is a great statement and one that has impressed me greatly, with its many hidden truths. He said:
Commanders should be counselled chiefly by persons of known talent, by those who have made the art of war their particular study, and whose knowledge is derived from experience, by those who are present at the scene of action, who see the enemy, who see the advantages that occasions offer, and who, like people embarked in the same ship, are sharers of the danger.
If, therefore, anyone thinks himself qualified to give advice respecting the war which I am about to conduct, let him not refuse his assistance to the state, but let him come with me into Macedonia.
He shall be furnished with a ship, a tent; even his travelling charges will be defrayed, but if he thinks this too much trouble, and prefers the repose of a city life to the toils of war, let him not on land assume the office of a pilot. The city in itself furnishes abundance of topics for conversation; let it confine its passion for talking to its own precincts and rest assured that we shall pay no attention to any counsel but such as shall be framed within our camp. [General Lucius Aemilius Paulus, surnamed Macedonicus, Roman general and patrician, c. 229-160 B.C.]
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LTC Paul Labrador
Bombing is looks like you're doming something effective without actually doing something effective.....
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LTC Paul Labrador
I also think arming the Syrians is only delaying the inevitable. We're going to have to put ground forces back in if we want to root them out and exterminate them. However, in my pessimistic view, doing this allows the leadership to kick the can down the road long enough to let the next guy take the blame for boots on the ground.....
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CDR Kenneth Kaiser
I would agree with you. I guess I didn't answer the question directly enough. I think in terms of systems. Arming the Syrians as you point out only wastes money and kicks the can down the road. Arming them and training them still kicks it down the road. The consequences of either or both of these actions is that the enemy merely moves back into civilian enclosures such as schools and medical centers and we can no longer accomplish anything effective. Meanwhile the enemy grows stronger. By the time we catch up to the can so to speak we are facing a virtual Caliphate. That brings us to sending in more troops. I have a hard time with that because we commit them but then don't support them. When I served it was not necessary to have a JAG and whatever the other service equivalent at my side before I made a move. If you are going to war then go but don't do this half baked approach that has been so popular. That is why I like the quote From the General above Luciius Macedonicus)
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It's going to be another Goat F---, it's the same thing that happens over and over and yet we never learn. No matter how this turns out we're going to be screwed. ISIS loses, Iran/Syria gain power. ISIS wins, then we have a bigger conflict. The so called moderates have been accused of selling prisoners to ISIS. Best thing is to protect the Kurds, and try to avoid getting pulled into a deeper mess by supporting one side or the other.
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