I think we have to be aware of the events that precipitated this most recent upheaval in the Mid-East and set the foundation for the lingering mistrust, factionalization, and radical extremist factions that have declared jihad on the West -- in particular against the U.S. and European countries.

It was, basically, interference by world powers into the internal politics and strife in certain sovereign nations in the Mid--East. Those intrusions, for selfish political reasons, created an aura of mistrust. Support and withdrawal of support for hand picked individuals and factions changed with the tides. Eventually this intervention subsided and troops, money, infrastructure projects and other support just ended leaving the invaded countries with a few people very wealthy and a ticket out of the country, but the majority of citizens were left with no jobs, no government, no military, no police, no municipal systems, and parts of the country in rubble. The vacuum created was filled, over time, by left over 'freedom fighters' (remember them? That's what we called the original members of al Qaida that we supported as they fought against the Russians in Afghanistan) and other quasi military groups that provided some security and initiated strict sharia law to bring order (even though it was horrific in many senses) within the devastated population.

So now,as this ebb and flow continues, we're back to solve the problem with more troops, drones, air attacks, etc? The same strategy that started the whole thing to begin with. I just don't get it. I was in Saudi Arabia before, during and after the invasions of Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq. I was in Beirut, Lebanon during the conflict there . . . Leaving just 12 days before the truck bomber crashed the main gate of the U.S. Military installation near the airport. And it still seems we haven't learned anything about how to address this other than (as Drumpf proclaimed last night on Fox 'news') declare war (on who Donald?) or bomb the crap out of them as Newt and some other politicians are screaming about . . . aren't we bombing and shooting at 'them' now? Has this strategy worked . . . at all . . . anywhere?

Maybe it's time for people, our politicians in particular, to listen, learn, collaborate with others, look at root causes, and come up with some reasonable solutions. I think, if you look at where our society stands at this point, we are way to eager to take the easy way out, pull the trigger, and hope it results in something positive. Otherwise, we can expect more of the same: mass shootings of innocents merely going about their daily lives, bombings in populated civilian gathering places, inserting more of our troops in areas that local police/military/security forces turn tail and run after the first shot is fired, and have our politicians will complain about how the VA isn't properly supporting the needs of our veterans (they call them 'heroes' mainly because they never served and are just grateful these men and women put their lives on the line so they didn't have to get off the government gravy train and go serve) as a steady stream of dead and wounded soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen are transported back to the states.

What a crazy, out-of-touch merry-go-round.

Great posts, guys. 

I too was a little confused by what Donald Trump's call for a declaration of war does.
I mean, we are already bombing ISIS, using drones etc.
While I would welcome seeing the legislative branch get off the sidelines, and do more about this problem than wringing their hands and carping about the President,,, it's going to take more than just some "authorization of force" vote.

What does war mean? Would a large contingent of American troops in Syria defeat ISIS? Or would we just end up policing yet another piece of ground over there?
If we defeat ISIS on the ground in Syria, or Libya, or ____ does that somehow protect us from attacks in Western nations?

Tennyson asks "What do the terrorists want?"  Fair question.
Here are anothers,, Why are people seduced by this ideology? What does it offer? How does it extinguish empathy for others, and basic humane interests?
I just don't know.

Last edited by Goose (7/15/2016 11:07 am)