Well, I'd start with a realistic assessment of exactly what we are dealing with: Well-organized, well-financed homicidal maniacs who have an evil religious/political-driven agenda that is (threat-wise/agenda-wise) no different than that of the Nazis. Note that, interestingly, the Nazis and the Islamists, the two gravest threats to world peace over the past 100 years, both share and intense hatred of the Jews/are obsessed with them. The means that we must do WHATEVER IT TAKES to stop them and to annihilate them!Edward: So what do you think we should do, Phil?
NO, military action ON ITS OWN will not stop the ISLAMISTS. But make no mistake about it, a sophisticated, cooperative and ongoing military engagement is a key PART of what we must do. ISIS, in particular, craves and have mounted successful geographic lust for conquered territory. They have conventional, well-armed forces. They have bases and places of operations, where they both mass and congregate, plot, and launch operations from. It such ways, they present strategic targets like any other such enemy. Bomb them, drone them, whatever - which WILL include boots on the ground.
The main reason military action has only slowed ISIS a bit is that it has 1) been willy nilly - not coordinated and sophisticated, not by a large continuously engaging coalition of superior forces - which is what it will take; 2) air power and bombing alone with not get the job done - only in conjunction with conventional forces will it.
Choke off all avenues of strategic importance, especially financial. European newspapers this weekend have estimated that ISIS has a much as 2 trillion dollar of cash - think of the hell that can buy! DEMAND support from our allies, NATO, etc. Take away as much as possible avenues for their propaganda - certainly mosques, radio, online - as possible, wherever possible. Greatly tighten up border and immigration security processes and procedures. Shut down any mosque or organization spewing hateful rhetoric. Encourage peaceful Muslims and Muslim countries wherever justified - and counter Islamist propaganda that our war is against Muslims - NO, it is against Muslims who are causing or encouraging war and mayhem.
So, NO one-trick pony is going to solve this. But it won't be solved until a comprehensive and relentless coalition of military forces and other tactics get serious about it. ANYONE who believes playing nice or giving in to various demands will placate people willing to slaughter civilians, Muslim or not, is delusional! ISIS and other such groups are cancers upon our world, bent upon annihilating all they hate, to bring misery to all in their wake. So, they must be stopped with every weapon at our disposal - in the same way they think of furthering their agenda, using every weapon they can to do so.
When dealing with devils, extraordinary measures are necessary. The world better wake up - and QUICKLY!!!
