Is the Obama Administration's Policy on ISIS the proper one?

2015-08-07T08:41:29-04:00

Should we recommit US combat forces to Iraq or Syria or elsewhere in order to fight ISIS?

"When asked by Sen. Ted Cruz if it’s fathomable to “destroy ISIS within 90 days,” Gen. Dempsey responded bluntly: “It’s not possible, senator.”

“Militarily we could confront them, we could destroy a lot of equipment, we could drive them underground, if you will. But as I said, they will only be defeated or destroyed once they are rejected by the population in which they hide,” Dempsey said.

“Truly there is no military solution to ISIL,” the general added. “It may be a tough pill to swallow, but there is no military solution.”

http://www.rt.com/usa/188256-hagel-dempsey-isis-hearing/

So it would seem that the Obama Administration is following a rational policy by not redeploying troops to the region.

Pentagon: US ground troops may fight Islamic State despite ‘no military solution’

Two of the United States military’s top officials testified before the Senate on Tuesday about the growing threat posed by Islamic State militants and acknowledged that the Pentagon’s current plan for the situation in Iraq and Syria could soon shift.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 7 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-08-07T08:43:44-04:00

Well haven't we already tried that whole "train and equip" plan before...look how well that turned out.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 7 at 2015 9:00 AM

2015-08-07T09:00:46-04:00

They're right. We went in there before and bombed and shot them to hell and back and where did it get us? A snake more venomous than the one before it. We need to sit back and give them time to get their heads around the problem before committing our lives to it. Let them engage themselves and their neighbors. They have to want it for themselves for a change. You cannot and will not kill an ideology. You can change the direction it goes through education and proper IO campaigns, and affect change that way. The only "winners" if we were to fully redeploy are those who stand to make billions in contracts (Halliburton, Brown and Root). At some point we need to look at the bigger picture and realize that we cannot save everyone, every time when they don't have the will and desire to succeed. How many more of us have to be wounded, killed, or have families destroyed before we say deal with your problems because we're not?

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 9:00 AM

2015-08-07T09:00:57-04:00

To be honest the only way to deal with ISIL is to remove any and all humane thoughts or treatment and let them feel the brunt of the US military. I know this will not happen, but the only way is to eradicate them by chasing them to the corners of the earth and ending their existence brutally. These people rule by fear and have been ruled by fear. If we want to get their attention we need to show resolve and quit telling them when we are leaving, and just give them fireworks. Just my .02

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 7 at 2015 9:04 AM

2015-08-07T09:04:52-04:00

The only policy should be the complete destruction of ISIS. No other options are acceptable.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 9:09 AM

2015-08-07T09:09:45-04:00

They can be routed out. The problem isn't one of ability, the problem is one of commitment. The people of the area would be happy to see ISIS forces gone and those that go in hiding would be found by the indigenous people if they knew we had their backs. They (ISIS) have a bully mentality and strength is something they respect. If you show weakness, it only emboldens their resolve. Unfortunately, BO does not have the brass or initiative to take the fight to them.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-08-07T09:53:12-04:00

No, it isn't. We need to go in there with a sane ROE, boots on the ground, and destroy ISIS completely.

Once we do that, we work with Turkey and Iran to guarantee their borders, and let the Kurds have their homeland. We withdraw from the rest of Iraq, and partition off the Kurdish part. Let the Sunni and Shiite factions fight it out.

Iraq isn't even a true country, it's 3 cobbled-together provinces of the old Ottoman Empire.