Do you think that U.S. caution is giving ISIS an edge as this article suggests? If so, what do you think the U.S. should do?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:54:15 -0400

American and allied warplanes are equipped with the most precise aerial arsenal ever fielded. But American officials say they are not striking significant, and obvious, Islamic State targets out of fear that the attacks will accidentally kill civilians. Killing such innocents could hand the militants a major propaganda coup and alienate the local Sunni tribesmen, whose support is critical to ousting the militants, and Sunni Arab countries that are part of the fragile American-led coalition.

But many Iraqi commanders and some American officers say that exercising such prudence with airstrikes is a major reason the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh, has been able to seize vast territory in recent months in Iraq and Syria. That caution — coupled with President Obama’s reluctance to commit significant American firepower to a war the White House declared over in 2011, when the last United States combat troops withdrew from Iraq — has led to persistent complaints from Iraqi officials that the United States has been too cautious in its air campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/world/middleeast/with-isis-in-crosshairs-us-holds-back-to-protect-civilians.html

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Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 9:09 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:09:54 -0400

Are we honestly going to change their mindset and end this?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 9:09 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:09:54 -0400

This is very frustraiting, but we need to protect our borders and work on keeping America safe. I just don't know how we can make a big enough impact without creating more trouble! My 2 cents!

Response by SGT David T. made May 27 at 2015 9:31 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:31:45 -0400

Caution does not win wars. Wars are won by violence of action and aggressively working towards defeating the enemy. As with any conflict, the overall goal is the arena of the politicians. As such we have two options: all in or all out. Caution is expending resources for no real gains.

Response by Capt Grant Zerbe made May 27 at 2015 9:33 AM

Capt Grant Zerbe — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:33:00 -0400

I think if we put a squadron of A-10 Wart Hogs at Baghdad International Airport and let them roam the surrounding desert for a couple of weeks the influence of ISIS would be reduced.

Response by SFC(P) Aaron Fore made May 27 at 2015 11:17 AM

SFC(P) Aaron Fore — Wed, 27 May 2015 11:17:57 -0400

I would say first and foremost, this is a regional conflict that all the regional players, Syria, Iraq, Kuait, Turkey, Saudi Arabia ydadda, yadda yadda, should be dealing with, as it is a direct threat to their borders and regimes. Not to mention the faults they either openly or covertly are responsible for in the creation of this parasite.
The politicians only commit to what they believe will benefit themselves politically and politically since Vietnam the politicians think that putting US Service members at higher risk to look as if they cared about local nationals, it’s all smoke and mirrors.
Yes ISIS has an edge because no one will commit to eliminating them from top to bottom, we, US Military, could accomplish this task easily if our hands were not bound by political shackles.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 27 at 2015 11:35 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 27 May 2015 11:35:16 -0400

What give ISIS an edge is a administration that has invested it's legacy into "stopping the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan". Which means the US cannot get reinvolved in those countries without falsifying that legacy.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made May 27 at 2015 2:12 PM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:12:38 -0400

Be ready for this

https://youtu.be/6PzT8vEvYPg

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