Should our administration join a France/Russian alliance to defeat ISIS?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:13:27 -0500

Response by SPC Joshua Heath made Nov 17 at 2015 12:14 PM

SPC Joshua Heath — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:14:46 -0500

Yes, I think we should. However, it should be clear that we expect there to be a regime transition once ISIS has largely been defeated. We also will need to ensure a three country post-conflict development program for Syria.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 12:17 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:17:17 -0500

Yes an No. just air strike and arming Kurd will do the job.

Response by Cpl Hugh Moag made Nov 17 at 2015 1:26 PM

Cpl Hugh Moag — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:26:38 -0500

I think it really depends on the strategic vision for the Middle East that we decide to work towards. If our goal is to simply continue the cauldron of hate and discontent while hopefully frustrating or at least slowing down Russian and Iranian interests in expanding their influence then air strikes, SF and support kurds and Sunni moderates will continue the status quo (including refugee migration and occasional terror attacks in the west) however, in my opinion any strategy that hopes for an eventual return to Peace and Stability must include multi lateral cooperation with not just Russia and Iran but Turkey, NATO, Iraq, Saudi, Kurdish and probably Israel as well. Once and only after a decision is made on a reasonably fair repartition of the current borders that are leftover from various colonial powers (Ottoman, French, English) we can move to a multilateral boots on the ground ass kicking of the Daesh and intelligence gathering from these areas so we can roll up the international collaborators sponsoring jihadi terrorism.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 17 at 2015 3:10 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:10:28 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member - I think we need to do whatever is reasonably necessary to defeat ISIS now or we will be knee-deep in the battle in our own country (which I fear we are already too late to stop it). Having said that, we need to have clear objectives and understandings with our allies, to include what constitutes victory and what the post-hostilities end-state will be. I believe that will, by necessity, require a long-term joint allied presence in the Middle East.