SocraticGadfly: Um, Dear Leader? Do you think ISIS hasn't heard of Stingers?

August 09, 2014

Um, Dear Leader? Do you think ISIS hasn't heard of Stingers?

President Barack Obama says that Iraq airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, are likely to be a long-term action:
“I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks,” Mr. Obama said before leaving for a two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. “This is going to be a long-term project.”
The thing is, he's not told us a few things.

First, what is his "exit" strategy. Ever since Shrub Bush invading Afghanistan, then Iraq, this has been an issue.

Second, what happens if, per the muahjideen we armed against the USSR in 1980s Iraq, what if ISIS has a few Stingers or other anti-aircraft missile launchers? This is especially important if we also try to do humanitarian aid drops to people entrapped by ISIS. Said drops must be done by planes flying slower and at lower altitudes.

Third, why are we dragging nation-building back in the picture?
But he said the broader effort was intended to help Iraqis meet the threat from the militants over the long term. “The most important time table that I’m focused on right now is the Iraqi government getting formed and finalized,” the president said before boarding Marine One.
Erm? You're going to wait until hell freezes over before Nouri Maliki forms a new government that represents all of Iraq.

So, this is like being in Wonderland:
He suggested that helping those people make it to safety would take time. He also said that getting an inclusive Iraqi government formed, and giving all Iraqis a reason to believe that they are represented by that government, would help give Iraqi military forces a reason to fight back against the militants.
Just ain't happening.

That said, it's, er, "interesting" that Dear Leader never mentioned Maliki by name in any of his comments about formation of a representative government. So, are we planning a coup, or at least assisting one if it forms?

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