No, it's a power grab cloaked in a religious war. They are using religion as a propaganda tool to take power. They'll use it to keep power, we've seen this story before. Europe had the stranglehold on this back in the Middle Ages.

 

Either way the solution is the same, kill them.

Who fills the void when this current terrorist group is gone? I think another one would pop up.

 

Wouldn't the best course of action to destroy them be asking our allies like Saudi Arabia, and other prominent people in other countries like Kuwait and Qatar to stop funding ISIS?

 

We certainly need to make sure we don't leave a void and/or pull out too soon because of politics.

 

On the funding of ISIS, the US Government should be making it clear to every bank/country/etc. if any of them fund ISIS then we are at war with them too, we will destroy their country too and the US will never do any banking with any of the banks that are used to fund ISIS.

 

The problem is the USA is a bunch of you know whats when it comes war. CBDV made a very compelling point on this issue.

Seems to me we one a very quick war in 1991 that gained the objectives we set out to achieve. (Liberate Kuwait)

 

You are correct but CBDV made an excellent point.

Who is making excuses? It's an analysis of the issue.

 

Can you tell me when that fear has worked?

 

I think your last paragraph is spot on.

I was referring to the statement about abject poverty and oppression. If that was the root cause of terrorism, then the Islamist terrorists would be competing with the poor Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian terrorists of the world, The common thread that connects most terrorist groups in the Middle East, Africa, and Indonesia is not poverty, nor is it oppression - the common thread is Islam.

 

Fear worked when Reagan bombed one of Qadaffi's palaces and nearly killed one of his children. Throughout history, the losing sides in war have calmed down after a resounding, decisive military defeat. Germany and Japan are two good examples. The wars that this country waged against the Barbary pirates in the early 18th century is an example of barbaric Muslims responding to force.

I was referring to the statement about abject poverty and oppression. If that was the root cause of terrorism, then the Islamist terrorists would be competing with the poor Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian terrorists of the world, The common thread that connects most terrorist groups in the Middle East, Africa, and Indonesia is not poverty, nor is it oppression - the common thread is Islam.

 

Fear worked when Reagan bombed one of Qadaffi's palaces and nearly killed one of his children. Throughout history, the losing sides in war have calmed down after a resounding, decisive military defeat. Germany and Japan are two good examples. The wars that this country waged against the Barbary pirates in the early 18th century is an example of barbaric Muslims responding to force.

 

Don't disagree totally Mitch. However the fodder for these movements is often found among the outcast.

 

I thought of Reagan. But he had a target in a nation. Who do we keep bombing when ISIS melts into the fabric of Syria or Iraq, only to reassertion themselves somewhere else?

 

The Barbary Pirates held a territory that we could attack but if I remember we didn't eliminate the Barbary States but hammered out a treaty after some military clashes.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War

 

Ironically the US paid ransom for captives and signed a Peace with the Tripoltian States.

Don't disagree totally Mitch. However the fodder for these movements is often found among the outcast.

 

I thought of Reagan. But he had a target in a nation. Who do we keep bombing when ISIS melts into the fabric of Syria or Iraq, only to reassertion themselves somewhere else?

 

The Barbary Pirates held a territory that we could attack but if I remember we didn't eliminate the Barbary States but hammered out a treaty after some military clashes.

 

First Barbary War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Ironically the US paid ransom for captives and signed a Peace with the Tripoltian States.

I think that the only rational way to fight ISIS is to kill, not capture, as many of their fighters as quickly as possible and destroy all of their advanced weaponry. The focus should be on demoralizing them, crippling their ability to recruit, and make it clear that rearming the group would be a poor investment.

 

Any effort to eradicate ISIS should include regular estimates of terrorist casualties, and I would save the smart bombs for smarter targets than Islamic terrorists.

 

If all Obama is going to do is try to make ISIS a "manageable problem," then we might as well wait on a new president who will take his or her responsibilities seriously.

This war has absolutely nothing to do with poverty. It is time to stop making excuses for Islam. Followers of Mohammed slaughtered innocent victims during his lifetime and conquered vast swaths of territory using many of the same methods that ISIS uses today. He set the example for groups like ISIS to follow for all time.

 

I disagree. Access to education and a world view are absolutely causes. The lack of access to education and expansion of world view are the results of poverty and oppression. Those uneducated and limited in world view see their oppressors as sort of heroes, and they want to join the cause. It's very, very similar to what feeds the gang culture here in America.

 

The truth is most radical followers of Islam want somebody else to die for their faith, not themselves. The supply of suicide bombers is not inexhaustible and fear has worked before to defeat radial followers of Mohammed and it will work again.

 

I agree it's not inexhaustible, but the way to exhaust a steady stream of people seeking to escape their miserable circumstances will continue as long as they feel they are achieving a higher purpose.

 

If you mean radical followers, I do not think fear will work now. Why? Because they aren't afraid. They're nimble and with the advances in technology, their messages are being heard by broader bases, assistance comes from broader spectrums, and they are clever in their use of social media to strike fear in US. They are not afraid. And it's like trying to kill Medusa. You can kill one snake, but there are others writhing in wait.

 

ISIS has no means to produce advanced weapons and its only reliable source of income is oil. Our own advanced weaponry would have made quick work of these terrorists before they managed to conquery large Iraqi cities. The task of eliminating the ISIS army will be more difficult than it should have been had our president not been so timid about confronting the threat, but it can still bee done relatively quickly if our military is allowed to freely utilize the tools that it has at its disposal.

 

I don't think ISIS is limited in income from oil. I believe there are external sources of funding.

 

This is a religious war between Islamo-nazis and the civilized world. Obama needs to acknowledge it as such and start acting like a real commander-in-chief for a change.

 

I disagree that this is a religious war. This is a war of power, just as the Crusades were. Religious implications are the guise.

You are correct, the radical muslims love to oppress and keep folks poor.

 

And thus the endless, willing recruits to their cause.

ISIS has made their first big mistake by calling out Putin and Russia.. Putin will do his best to crush them.. Not play games(golf) like the sissy we have in the white house...

 

Let him. We've carried the load for over a decade now. However, remember what happened when Russia was involved in Afghanistan the last time...maybe we shouldn't be so quick to trust Russia on something like this.

We will win when we start doing this again -

 

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The US has not won a war since those pictures were taken.

 

Until we have the will and politicians to do that to every city, village, and place that harbors, hides, or supports the "terror" groups we will not win.

 

That includes doing it to our so called allies......

 

And of the citizens in those cities and villages who are not ISIS?

I was referring to the statement about abject poverty and oppression. If that was the root cause of terrorism, then the Islamist terrorists would be competing with the poor Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian terrorists of the world, The common thread that connects most terrorist groups in the Middle East, Africa, and Indonesia is not poverty, nor is it oppression - the common thread is Islam.

 

Fear worked when Reagan bombed one of Qadaffi's palaces and nearly killed one of his children. Throughout history, the losing sides in war have calmed down after a resounding, decisive military defeat. Germany and Japan are two good examples. The wars that this country waged against the Barbary pirates in the early 18th century is an example of barbaric Muslims responding to force.

 

Buddhist, Hindu and Christians are not by and large denying education for their children and oppressing females.

 

Fear worked decades ago. This is a different world now.

I disagree. Access to education and a world view are absolutely causes. The lack of access to education and expansion of world view are the results of poverty and oppression. Those uneducated and limited in world view see their oppressors as sort of heroes, and they want to join the cause. It's very, very similar to what feeds the gang culture here in America.

Then where are the large armies of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian terrorists? Most poor people in this world, even those with little or no formal education, are relatively peaceful. Like I said above, Islam is the common thread that binds the overwhelming majority of terrorists in this world.

 

You also should recall that the top leaders of Al Qaida and many of the 19 terrorists who took part in the 9/11 attacks were neither poor nor poorly educated. Money and education will not defeat radical Islam - it will just allow them to develop more sophisticated weapons.

 

I agree it's not inexhaustible, but the way to exhaust a steady stream of people seeking to escape their miserable circumstances will continue as long as they feel they are achieving a higher purpose.

 

If you mean radical followers, I do not think fear will work now. Why? Because they aren't afraid. They're nimble and with the advances in technology, their messages are being heard by broader bases, assistance comes from broader spectrums, and they are clever in their use of social media to strike fear in US. They are not afraid. And it's like trying to kill Medusa. You can kill one snake, but there are others writhing in wait.

You are giving these monsters too much credit. Human beings are born with our survival instincts. Many Islamo-fascists are willing to die while taking many Americans, Europeans, or Jews with them, but not many really want to be incinerated without getting anybody else's blood on their hands. It is time that our timid government start spreading some fear and intimidation of its own.

 

I don't think ISIS is limited in income from oil. I believe there are external sources of funding.

They loot and scavenge conquered areas and strip the personal belongings from their victims, but when they meet real resistance, that funding will dry up. There are undoubtedly many wealthy Saudis, Quataris, etc. who are also funding ISIS, but that funding will also evaporate if the U.S. commits itself to destroying ISIS, as opposed to managing the "problem."

 

I disagree that this is a religious war. This is a war of power, just as the Crusades were. Religious implications are the guise.

It does not matter whether you believe that this is a religious war or not. ISIS fighters believe that they are engaged in a religious war and there is very strong evidence to support their position.

Mitch, you and I will never agree on this. So, I'm not going to belabor the points I've made. I do feel, though, that one of the reasons that these groups keep popping up and will continue is BECAUSE we still have the outdated thought that sheer might will fix the issue. It only strengthens their resolve. To change ideology, you have to change minds.

Buddhist, Hindu and Christians are not by and large denying education for their children and oppressing females.

 

Fear worked decades ago. This is a different world now.

The only difference in poor, uneducated Buddhist, Hindu, and Christians; and Muslims is religion. The point that you seem to be missing is that terrorist groups like ISIS are fighting for a strict theocracy where women would be allowed little, if any, education or liberty.

 

Their fight is deeply rooted in their religious beliefs, and that is what makes their fight a religious war on civilization. They are not interested in democracy. They believe that they have a right to subjugate, rob, degrade, and kill infidels, and it is a waste of time negotiating with people who hold such beliefs.

 

Unconditional surrender is the only terms that civilized countries should accept when dealing with groups like ISIS and Hamas.

Mitch, you and I will never agree on this. So, I'm not going to belabor the points I've made. I do feel, though, that one of the reasons that these groups keep popping up and will continue is BECAUSE we still have the outdated thought that sheer might will fix the issue. It only strengthens their resolve. To change ideology, you have to change minds.

Losing costly wars changes minds. Stalemates and half-measures just keeps hope alive among the terrorists. You cannot reason with pure evil.