ISIS: What is the US Role now?

[PrincessFiona]

I meant to post something about this a couple of weeks ago as it seemed like things were really ramping up. Now with the horrendous beheading of a US journalist it feels like things are reaching a boiling over point.

What do you feel like our role should be right now in the Middle East (Iraq and possibly Syria).

[medpedspouse]

I cannot wrap my head around it to have an opinion. I cannot understand the amount of hate you must carry to be able to behead someone....or any other atrocity for that matter.

[Sheherezade]

I need to better educate myself. My only opinion on ISIS is that they are an army not a terrorist group. They intend to take over land and rule it. They collect taxes and govern. I'm not sure we should be treating them as we would a terror group. They are engaged in a land war and they are conquering other countries. I don't know how we'd react if a known country was doing that but my guess is the UN would be taking organized action to stop it.

I don't think the US should be in this alone.

I think they are very dangerous, but luckily we are much better equipped militarily.


Angie

[PrincessFiona]

I don't think the US should be in this alone either, Angie. I feel really concerned about all of the reports that I am reading that threaten attacks on US soil. I also have this sense that they are much more than a terrorist organization. I feel like we need to take the threat very seriously, even if that means that we send in more military troops.

Kris

[PrincessFiona]

Funny that we aren't discussing this more. I have major panic attacks about this every day. Personally, I'm appalled that we haven't got boots on the ground. We're letting them take over parts of Syria and Iraq... This is a huge problem. I'm appalled and frightened by the beheadings and reports of rapes/beheadings of children and women. It makes me sick. I am afraid of the future.

I feel like our military is sitting back and taking the path of least resistance. A few bombings here and there have done very little.

Of course Turkey isn't going to step in. Why should they? What is in it for them? They are there right now on the border to protect themselves, not fight our fight. If this is allowed to continue, I believe we are looking at a problem that will be too big for us to manage.

[SoonerTexan]

We are too busy worry about lab workers on cruise ships dontcha knows

[Deebs]

I don't know what the right answer is. Like many, I just don't know enough to form an intelligent opinion. Honestly, I hope the global governmental bodies have more intel on ISIS than what's being shared with the public. The US can't save the rest of the world, so I do think we need to work with our allies to determine the best course of action, and plan for a long-haul with whatever approach we take.

[Sheherezade]

The problem with a Turkey is that ISIS is the enemy of their enemy. The Turks are fighting the Kurds and they are happy to have ISIS lend a hand at destroying them. It's hard to convince them to fight ISIS instead since that brings relief to the Kurds. The will let Kobani fall and only then provide any effort against ISIS. Its a complex negotiation to get them to honor NATO and I think they are playing both sides. Hopefully, their allegiance to their western alliance means more to them than the destruction of the Kurds.

It's so tangled up in Syria it's hard to know who should be in our alliance. Assad? Umm, no. But he's our best bet right now? It all sucks.

My DH is adamantly against any more troops anywhere. I've never seen him this fired up about politics. I think the politicians realize there are citizens that are very isolationist after 14 years of war in many countries and they are trying to go with an approach similar to what worked in the Bosnian conflict. For that, we'd need international help. I hope it comes together.


Angie

[PrincessFiona]

It's funny. I've never supported using our troops until now.