What should be done about ISIS?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:25:07 -0400

I realize this is beyond most of our pay grade. The president specifically said on Friday the 13th no troops on the ground (hopefully he'll stand by his word this time). Would you still have confidence in him if he falls back on his word?

The group (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is spreading like wildfire in the heart of Middle East. Can anything be done to restore peace there? I never been there so I plead the 5th

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 10:32 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:32:03 -0400

I don't believe that the use of conventional troops would be effective in this situation. Terrorism is not a definite state and is harder to attack and nearly impossible to completely eliminate. Unconventional warfare through the use of special operations is the best hope for peace.

Response by PO3 James Ducat made Jun 16 at 2014 11:49 PM

PO3 James Ducat — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:49:14 -0400

Personally, I think if they allow ISIS to overtake Iraq, then everything that was originally the intent, OIF was in vain. All those who died, whether its an Iraqi civilian, or a US service member was all for naught. It will just reinforce the entire reason's why I despised this administration to begin with.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 10 at 2014 7:21 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:21:24 -0400

I think we should support the President and allow them to get 88 pounds of uranium compounds, other nuclear materials and chemical weapon factories?

All I have is why and how? For a country that never had WMD, they sure have a lot of WMDs just sitting around?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 10 at 2014 7:31 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:31:16 -0400

The creation of a free Kurdistan. Armed and trained by the Worlds best. Maybe, LOTS of blood would be spilled, but mostly by our enemies and those willing to fight for their freedom.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 1:11 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:11:11 -0400

If Iraq's military doesn't defeat the ISIL or ISIS what is the next step?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 22 at 2014 3:20 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:20:38 -0400

I fear we can say hello to round 2. Take away the tanks and fighter planes, you are still left to fight the ground guys. That region has always needed an iron fist. I know it is unpopular to say, but they needed an a$$!@#$ to instill the fear of God/Allah into them. Even in our own country, when the people get really pissed and riot the cops pull back and regroup. The crowd goes INSANE. The police return not with psychiatrists and analysts, but with tear gas, water cannons, and billy clubs until the mob is put down. If the cops just leave.....what do you think happens?? If you are going to commit, be prepared to stay for a generation or two. I believe it will take 20 years just to make some sense of stability. It will take additional generations to try to change thinking. I'm not able to return to duty so it is easy for me to say "Let's go kick a$$" It needs to be a coalition effort. America CANNOT be Team America until there is peace in the middle east.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 1 at 2014 4:45 PM

SSG(P) Auston Terry — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:45:26 -0400

IMHO we should do nothing and allow the region to deal with it on thier own terms. It's not a very humanitarian reaction, but I feel we have done enough, given enough, and sacrificed enough for Iraq. It's time for Iraq to fight for itself. my analysis of the region and likely outcomes is based too much on "if:then" but realisitically the United States cannot have a positive effect there until and unless the Iraqi Government is able to demonstrate it can fight and win on its own; to legitimize itself in the eyes of it's own people.
edit:sp

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2014 5:50 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 17:50:20 -0400

Gunboat Diplomacy => Warthogs, AC-130s, B-52s, Carpet Bombing, Napalm B . . .

Seek and destroy leadership, command, control, logistics, armor, artillery, troops . . .

. . . no geographic limitations . . . then let the locals clean up the remaining rabble . . .

Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Sep 1 at 2014 7:53 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:53:03 -0400

I view ISIS like I do a Hornets' nest, if you do not destroy early, it will continue to expand, and the Hornets will attack you regardless if you leave them alone or not.
If you get it early, it is easy to take care of and your done with it. You wait too long, it gets harder to destroy the nest, there is more of them to attack you, and they just keep coming back because it is hard to get them all in one place and at one time.

Unfortunately, the current policy of little to no intervention has gotten us to the latter position.

Response by 1SG Mark Colomb made Sep 2 at 2014 9:17 AM

1SG Mark Colomb — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 09:17:39 -0400

ISIS is a cancer spreading throughout the middle east. It poses a distinct threat to our national interests at the global level. Unless we wish to dissolve out relationship with every nation in the region and the strategic benefits those relationship bring, we must eliminate the cancer. The problem for the United States, or any other western Nation is the indigenous people of the region either do not want something different, or they are incapable of mounting a credible resistance. If we are to get involved we need to stay long enough for them to create the social change within their own country enabling them to stand on their own.

However, we must go at it for the long haul. The problems facing us int he region did not develop overnight, or even over the last ten, twenty, or more years. These problems have been festering for centuries and there are no easy or quick, or inexpensive solutions. We must develop an alliance with other nations equally exposed to this danger and formulate a cohesive set of solutions to address this problem. Then, we as a Nation must agree to get in it for the long haul. Not ten years, not 20 years, but perhaps 50 or more years.

There is plenty of precedence to allies remaining. We are still in Europe, Korea, and the Balkans Our presence need not be as occupiers, rather enablers.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 22 at 2014 1:49 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:49:02 -0400

I try NOT to think of ISIS, but when I do, it involves carpet bombing. Stay thirsty, my friends.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 22 at 2014 2:14 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 14:14:32 -0400

Sustained systematic campaign to remove its leadership. Capture who you can and lay charges of genocide and have them appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and seek the death penalty. Air strikes to take out any hearvy armour or other equipment and or supplies. This is what happens when a kid grows up in a culture of violence and indifference, no job, and with no place to call home. The only hope that they have is to latch on to whatever flavour of the month jihad that is trending. They need to get the message that they only have to options. ISIS can either live peacefully with us or die trying to push there doctrine of hate. From where I come from if you act like an asshole your going to get treated as such and these guys are assholes.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 22 at 2014 2:26 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 14:26:31 -0400

We need to take out the leadership in order to disrupt the rest. 60 mins last night said that the head guy was an adviser to the US. What happened? Also we need to take control of the oil fields they have in order to keep them from profiting form that. The oil provides ISIS with $6,000,000.00 per day! With that kind of money they can go on for a very long time. We need to end this. We need to convince the rest of the Muslim countries to join the fight and end these idiots all together. King Abdullah of Jordan said that the world needs to put their differences aside and come together to fight the good fight, bottom line its good against evil.

Response by GySgt Craig Jordan made Sep 22 at 2014 9:18 PM

GySgt Craig Jordan — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 21:18:11 -0400

I think Isis is a US. threat and Western World threat. That needs to be stopped a.s.a.p.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 12:36 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:36:59 -0400

My stance as a military medic is to care for the injured coalition forces and innocent civilians. As for military action, I follow the lawful orders of the Commander in Chief. My personal opinion....Secure our borders!!

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Sep 23 at 2014 4:28 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:28:24 -0400

As a vet concerned about those still serving, I am hesitant to put them in harm's way - again (still?) - without knowing how this will end.

As a student/practitioner of threat mitigation/elimination, I say that unless you're willing and able to commit to utter destruction of the threat, stay on the porch. A half-ass implementation of a dim-witted plan results in a full-blown cluster.

Politicians should make the decision for war, and the military should be given the tools, time and support to carry it out.

I'll go back to sitting on my couch with Alice and the Mad Hatter watching the Red Queen play chess... 7:^D