What would be your strategy for defeating ISIS

SGT James Elphick — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:08:43 -0400

Our current strategy for defeating ISIS is progressing slowly at best and is rife with a refusal to involve U.S. ground forces. How would you handle the situation? Personally, I believe in a limited mission with light, expeditionary forces we could sweep through the areas controlled by ISIS and root them out. I would employ the GRF Brigade from the 82nd Airborne with support from the II MEF MEU operating in the area utilizing vertical envelopment to fix and destroy ISIS fighters. Combined with Special Forces leading indigenous forces and Rangers and SEALs to conduct precision raids I believe the main effort could be wrapped up in less than 90 days thus avoiding the necessity to get a Use of Force Agreement from Congress.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2014 4:11 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:11:40 -0400

SGT James Elphick, I like your strategy. Small number of U.S. troops - SOF heavy in that small number - go in and take care of business. I think it's going to take a much longer time to defeat ISIS if we don't do something along these lines.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2014 8:14 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 20:14:01 -0400

I'd put 4 divisions on line, slow roll, bypass nothing and task Peshmerga and Iraqi Army with rear area security. Instruct bordering states, except Syria, to seal their borders with Iraq and Syria. Just as happy to drive ISIS back as to kill them until the O-Pause at the Syrian border. If we succeeded in pushing the majority of ISIS into Syria, that should amp up the chaos there and when that finally results in the death/abdication/exile/disappearance of Bashar al-Assad, then resume the push forward. The rats can die or drown.

If that radicalizes anyone, fine. If it was that easy to do, then they can die on our pikes as well.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 4 at 2014 4:10 PM

SSG Tim Everett — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:10:13 -0500

Press, media, and social media blackout. Also, politicians GTFO unless you're coming to fight. Followed by commitment of as many USSOCOM forces as I can get, along with enough air support and logistics as possible. Probably including a couple of infantry divisions that are brought up to full strength.

And then?

Unbridled f****ng warfare. Every dirty trick in the book. Give it to them so hard their mammas black out. Just the mere thought of getting into a fight makes them pish their breeks. All this internet lore about soaking bullets in pork fat? I'll try it.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jun 20 at 2015 8:48 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 20:48:43 -0400

Short of going all-in and sending a million ground troops to the Middle East for the next few years, destroying ISIS has to come through smarter means. Since they don't have access to many resources (besides oil and US military equipment that they capture from Iraq), if we isolate and contain them, their own medieval ideology will only weaken them more and more over time. Without outside support, ISIS will eventually collapse. Keeping them contained and isolated, and letting them rot away will eventually allow them to be overtaken by local forces who are tired of their extremist and self-destructive principles. This is at least a coherent strategy that we can execute on, and should therefore be considered.

I would also suggest considering breaking Iraq up into three countries (Shia, Sunni, and Kurd). A Sunni territory government will finally have the incentive to prevent a new ISIS from forming because it would be a direct threat to the Sunni government, unlike the barely patched together government of Iraq today, which is obviously willing to cede large parts of Iraq as long as Baghdad and the Shia territories are protected.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 11:42 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 23:42:30 -0400

Making them watch bay watch giving away free cigarettes and whiskey.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jun 9 at 2016 2:27 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 14:27:31 -0400

Those that support all facets of isis/isil need to go b/c that is how these groups get a foothold...someone lets them in.