Saturday, May 23, 2015

A Strategy to Defeat ISIS



Memorial Day is also a reminder of what it takes to defend America, and to consider the current threat that radical Islam is to our country and the free world.   Those of us who served can’t help but be frustrated by the current unwillingness of our government to use the power we have against what is a clear and defined enemy.   I heard a strategy outlined by a retired military officer that called for the  introduction of sufficient ground forces to defeat ISIS on all fronts; it would require troops from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey to enter the battle in Iraq and Syria in sufficient numbers and from different directions.  The key part of the plan was America’s willingness to lead the effort with at least one division and bring out of retirement General Petraeus (as we did in Korea with General MacArthur)  to bring the other partners together with the necessary resources and define the strategy.   The plan would have a good chance of acceptance by the other countries IF America would lead with some troops.  Unfortunately with our current leadership that probably can’t happen at least until the enemy is seen as the threat it is to us and/or we have a change in leadership.  The summary of the discussion was the other countries in the Mid-East seem willing to commit airpower, as we have, but no troops (because America won’t).   What if America would lead as we have in the past to defeat ISIS and restore our credibility in the world..