02-19-2015, 10:19 PM
I understand where you're coming from, Maggot.
Words and depictions mean a lot to IS when it comes to Muhammad, and when it comes to its propaganda and recruitment videos and postings. But, whether Obama recognizes them as extreme Islamic Fundamentalists (which I think many of them are or believe they are) probably doesn't matter much to IS directly. What does matter, in my opinion, is not giving all Muslims the impression that the US is at war with Islam or any religion, but instead only those who are killing and suppressing others.
I thought Kirby sounded kinda mealy mouthed myself. But, I didn't get the impression that he or Obama were berating or scolding Egypt for bombing the IS sites in Libya in retaliation for the beheadings. I got the impression that they want Egypt to fight IS as part of the international coalition and for there to be coordinated strategies and targets. I don't think they want Egypt to continue bombing or start a unilateral military campaign within Libya. That would definitely be different than what the US is doing (though we've admittedly done it plenty of times in our history).
The US was, in fact, asked by the Iraqi government and the Kurds to assist them in fighting IS in Iraq. And, we're doing so in partnership with a coalition of Middle Eastern and European countries. The same is true for Syria (although Assad couldn't directly ask, he scores by having others help quash IS in Syria and sure as hell doesn't object).
That's my interpretation of what was communicated, poorly, by the Pentagon and the White House. I agree with addressing the scourge in partnership with other countries who are impacted or threatened by it. And, while I understand Egypt's retaliatory bombing last weekend, I too hope that Sisi and company don't go off unilaterally in chaotic Libya beyond that strike. Egypt doesn't have to ask our permission or work as part of a team, but it behooves them politically to do the latter if their true objective is now to quash IS, in my opinion.
There isn't a bombing campaign that's gonna rid the world of IS in the short term without wiping out a shitload of civilians. It's gonna take time and coordinated strategies across geographic boundaries to really cripple them, I think. I don't know if Obama's strategy is the best one or not, but I understand the gist of it and I don't think there is one good definitive option or solution. It's a fucking mess.
Words and depictions mean a lot to IS when it comes to Muhammad, and when it comes to its propaganda and recruitment videos and postings. But, whether Obama recognizes them as extreme Islamic Fundamentalists (which I think many of them are or believe they are) probably doesn't matter much to IS directly. What does matter, in my opinion, is not giving all Muslims the impression that the US is at war with Islam or any religion, but instead only those who are killing and suppressing others.
I thought Kirby sounded kinda mealy mouthed myself. But, I didn't get the impression that he or Obama were berating or scolding Egypt for bombing the IS sites in Libya in retaliation for the beheadings. I got the impression that they want Egypt to fight IS as part of the international coalition and for there to be coordinated strategies and targets. I don't think they want Egypt to continue bombing or start a unilateral military campaign within Libya. That would definitely be different than what the US is doing (though we've admittedly done it plenty of times in our history).
The US was, in fact, asked by the Iraqi government and the Kurds to assist them in fighting IS in Iraq. And, we're doing so in partnership with a coalition of Middle Eastern and European countries. The same is true for Syria (although Assad couldn't directly ask, he scores by having others help quash IS in Syria and sure as hell doesn't object).
That's my interpretation of what was communicated, poorly, by the Pentagon and the White House. I agree with addressing the scourge in partnership with other countries who are impacted or threatened by it. And, while I understand Egypt's retaliatory bombing last weekend, I too hope that Sisi and company don't go off unilaterally in chaotic Libya beyond that strike. Egypt doesn't have to ask our permission or work as part of a team, but it behooves them politically to do the latter if their true objective is now to quash IS, in my opinion.
There isn't a bombing campaign that's gonna rid the world of IS in the short term without wiping out a shitload of civilians. It's gonna take time and coordinated strategies across geographic boundaries to really cripple them, I think. I don't know if Obama's strategy is the best one or not, but I understand the gist of it and I don't think there is one good definitive option or solution. It's a fucking mess.