Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The only way to defeat ISIS
CNN ^ | 8/21/14 | Mark Hertling

Posted on 08/21/2014 1:15:33 PM PDT by TangledUpInBlue

The major portion of the area Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is attempting to control for ISIS is the same place I called home for 16 months of my life.

Commanding Multinational Division North during the "surge" in 2007-08 -- a command which required securing four of the five provinces ISIS now desires to occupy -- allowed me to study the geographic, cultural, infrastructure, political and economic complexities of northern Iraq.

Anyone who supports fighting Baghdadi's ISIS in this area ought to be aware of the challenges the land and the people will present.

During our time there, we countered Iraqi insurgents, elements of al Qaeda in Iraq, homegrown terrorist groups like the 1920's Brigade, Nashqabandia, Ansar Al Sunna, and a variety of other gang-like organizations.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: jayvee
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last
An opinion piece. But an excellent informed one.
1 posted on 08/21/2014 1:15:33 PM PDT by TangledUpInBlue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

I don’t want to go to the CNN site.

Can you cut to the chase and tell us what the only way to defeat IS is?


2 posted on 08/21/2014 1:21:58 PM PDT by ifinnegan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Starts with “thermo”, ends with “nuclear”.


3 posted on 08/21/2014 1:22:54 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

“Special operators designating key targets and U.S. air power dropping bombs will contribute, but ultimately only the Iraqis, including the Kurds, can turn this around.”

Since that will not happen, eventually nukes. Just a matter of how much crap we are willing to eat before it happens.


4 posted on 08/21/2014 1:25:22 PM PDT by Gadsden1st
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

I don’t blame you. He basically said you have to have an understanding of local tribal law and win those people over to the fight. That the central Iraqi government has to convince those local people that they are better off with them, instead of trying to overthrow them. They basically hate ISIS but want the government gone.

But I agree with the guy who said Thermonuclear.


5 posted on 08/21/2014 1:28:13 PM PDT by TangledUpInBlue (I have no home. I'm the wind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gadsden1st

“...ultimately only the Iraqis, including the Kurds, can turn this around.”

They can’t turn this around.

So he is saying nothing can win it.


6 posted on 08/21/2014 1:28:52 PM PDT by ifinnegan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring
Starts with “thermo”, ends with “nuclear”.

That doesn't defeat the ideology of a people who will strap bombs onto their children, which is what we must do.

7 posted on 08/21/2014 1:37:41 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (Democrats: the Party of slavery to the immensely wealthy for over 200 years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring

Think about the environment, man! All that heat, blast wave, fallout...

Neutron weapons. Quick, clean, and utterly lethal.


8 posted on 08/21/2014 1:38:15 PM PDT by BrewingFrog (I brew, therefore I am!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

This guy has a lot invested in Iraq. His biography says he spent three years fighting in Iraq.
It’s hard to watch your work turn to crap.


9 posted on 08/21/2014 1:47:23 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring

exactly....


10 posted on 08/21/2014 1:48:21 PM PDT by Goreknowshowtocheat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

11 posted on 08/21/2014 1:55:36 PM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

“...get on the comm and tell fleet to glass this rock...”

Sgt Rico,
Mobile Infantry,
Starship Troopers
Robert Heinlein

KYPD


12 posted on 08/21/2014 1:57:29 PM PDT by petro45acp (It's a fabian thing.....how do you boil a frog? How's that water feelin right about now?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

nukes. from orbit.


13 posted on 08/21/2014 1:57:30 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie
That doesn't defeat the ideology of a people who will strap bombs onto their children, which is what we must do.

It worked against the Japanese.

14 posted on 08/21/2014 1:59:54 PM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SampleMan

I vote for nukes. Just a handful, small and well-placed, to destroy their command centers and break their ideology. Demonstrate that Allah can’t protect them from western technology, whenever or wherever we choose to deploy it.

It would probably be the most humane thing for their victims, as well.


15 posted on 08/21/2014 2:05:25 PM PDT by RaveOn ("No amount of logic can shatter a faith consciously based on a lie." Lamar Keene, "True Believers")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Smile! And whistle while you work!


16 posted on 08/21/2014 2:15:39 PM PDT by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SampleMan
It worked against the Japanese.

These guys are worse, in that they have no honor. When the Japanese surrendered, that was it. These guys won't do that. They'll fake surrender, and then kill you at the first opportunity.

17 posted on 08/21/2014 2:26:28 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (Democrats: the Party of slavery to the immensely wealthy for over 200 years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring

“Starts with “thermo”, ends with “nuclear”.”

My sentiments exactly.
A few well-placed nukes would not only wipe out a lot of them, but would let countries like Iran, Russia and China know we mean business.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.


18 posted on 08/21/2014 2:53:10 PM PDT by mkleesma (`Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

“nukes. from orbit.”

It’s the only way to be sure.


19 posted on 08/21/2014 2:54:32 PM PDT by mkleesma (`Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie
If you turn Mecca into a crater that glows in the daylight their ideology also goes up into smoke.
20 posted on 08/21/2014 3:14:05 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson