The more I've read, the more Ive realised, that I actually know even less than I thought I did about the area.
However I believe the plan should be:
- Political agreement on getting rid of Assad
- Syrian troops can then take on ISIS in syria
- Iraqi troops can take on ISIS in Iraq
- Air support could be made available if Syrian and Iraq troops request it.
Nato general Sir Richard Shirreff warns air strikes on Syria are useless
Ive read a lot about people who dont want to bomb ISIS in Syria. Ive read a lot about people who want to bomb ISIS in Syria, this is understandable after the lives lost in France. But many, many more lives have been lost by Christian and Muslims in Syria and Iraq. Beheadings, Burnings, Shootings, Drownings, Crucifictions, rape etc. You would have to be part way mad to not want to get rid of this scourge and wipe it of the face of the earth.
HOWEVER ....
The one thing you do not want to do to an opponent, is give them what they want. The terrorist attacks, the Beheadings, Burnings, Shootings, Drownings, Crucifictions are all designed to get a reaction. ISIS needs support to survive, if we fight them, if we bomb them, they get their support and we will achieve very little as the USA has already found out.
Lets face it the USA is the biggest military machine in the world, yet after 17 months of precision bombing there has been no impact on ISIS.
"WASHINGTON (AP) — After billions of dollars spent and more than 10,000 extremist fighters killed, the Islamic State group is fundamentally no weaker than it was when the U.S.-led bombing campaign began a year ago, American intelligence agencies have concluded." [More Here]
There are too many players involved, all with their own game plans. We have Russia, USA, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, France, UK, Israel, President Assad, Syrian rebels, Syrian Kurdish Popular Protection Units, Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party, Hezbollah, ISIS and the list goes on as there are believed to be around 100 different factions operating in Syria.
How do we think we can come out of that mixing pot with a workable plan?
One thing that is agreed by most sensible people, is that only a political solution can end the conflict, a sentiment that is also held by none other than President Vladimir Putin, a key player in the area.
But back to ISIS.
The only way to defeat the ISIS ideology, is for Middle east countries to kill them off. To pave the way for that, the Assad problem has to be dealt with. Which is a difficult one, as he's backed by Russia, non the less its an issue that needs a solution.
Once Assad is gone the Syrians will be free to take on ISIS in Syria themselves and with Iraq army combatting them in the south they wouldnt last long. Air support could be offered then if needed.
The point is, without our involvement, there will be no flow of replacement fighters rushing to join the battle with the infidel. Syria and Iraq will be able to deal with the problem on their own.
Which is the way it should be.