SOLVING THE SYRIAN REFUGEE PROBLEM
A terrible consequence of the war in Syria has been the flood of refugees fleeing the fighting and streaming to countries around the world to find safety. A dear friend of mine has asked how we solve this refugee problem. While nations grapple with the problem of a sudden influx of refugees on their shores, a long term solution to this must include halting what is making the refugees flee, the ghastly brutality of the war in Syria.
This war will end when some country or countries put a standing army in the field in Syria and take out ISIS, aka ISIL, Daesh, the Islamic State. The reason we need an army is that ISIS is an army that has moved with a good deal of skill and expertise in racking up its battlefield victories in Syria and Iraq over the last several years. If you doubt ISIS' ability to wage effective warfare, check out military strategist Dr. Frederick Kagan's testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee 21 May 2015 that my co-author, Pattie Mosure, and I recounted in our book, "Foreign Correspondent."
It matters little whether this army is American, Arab, European, a mix of NATO countries, Chinese, Japanese, or is from Venus or Mars. Or, whether we adopt Fox News journalist Bill O'Reilly's suggestion and put together a mercenary force of the world's professional soldiers for hire, of which there are many. But put an army in the field supported by air power, find ISIS' army, and destroy it. And kill all of its combatants, for the cruelty ISIS has amply demonstrated shows its followers are beyond redemption.
And let this be a warning to young idealists seeking to join ISIS and their parents. If we catch you fighting for ISIS we will kill you.
In addition to destroying ISIS militarily we must destroy it politically. That means cleaving from ISIS the support it enjoys in Syria and Iraq from their Sunni populations. The Sunnis are the major sect of Islam accounting for 80-85% of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims.
So, while we are destroying ISIS militarily we send a day contingent down to Damascus, the capital of Syria, and escort that murderous despot, Bashar al-Assad, and all of his family out of town. We cannot leave any of his family members in Damascus for they will engender loyalty from their supporters to rise in opposition. Or banish the al-Assad family from the country and hang Bashar al-Assad from the nearest lamppost. But get rid of him.
Assad is an Alawite, which is an offshoot of the Shia, the principal minority sect of Islam. Prior to the massive emigration of Syrians fleeing their country the Alawites probably accounted for only 15% or so of Syria's population of somewhere around 23 million. The Sunnis made up about 75% of the Syrian population.
Put a Sunni or a group of Sunnis in power in Syria. If ISIS is defeated on the battlefield and also stripped of its support from the Sunnis that will destroy it politically, ISIS will become an ineffective force. We will have to monitor it for years, but it will not be the major threat it is today.
Leave an international occupying army in Syria for the immediate future to convince the various factions fighting for power in addition to ISIS that they are not going to win. This should also weigh on Russia that its further meddling will accomplish little, especially with its client, Bashar al-Assad out of the picture.
And tell the millions of Syrian refugees camped out in foreign lands that it is safe for them to go home.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sunday, May 15, 2016
CARNAGE CONTINUES IN SYRIA:
Recent news reports from Syria say a so-called fragile peace plan in Syria has broken down again. On my 8 May 16 blog I wrote about the devastation in Syria as reported in a NYTimes op-ed piece. That was written by a Syrian doctor trying to save lives at a hospital in the Syrian town of Aleppo. Again, the United States needs to exert its influence to stop this tragedy. If we do not do it, who will? To these people of Syria, Asalaamu alaykum. Allah wiyaakum. Peace be upon you. God be with you.
Recent news reports from Syria say a so-called fragile peace plan in Syria has broken down again. On my 8 May 16 blog I wrote about the devastation in Syria as reported in a NYTimes op-ed piece. That was written by a Syrian doctor trying to save lives at a hospital in the Syrian town of Aleppo. Again, the United States needs to exert its influence to stop this tragedy. If we do not do it, who will? To these people of Syria, Asalaamu alaykum. Allah wiyaakum. Peace be upon you. God be with you.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
McCAIN AND TRUMP
From a news report 8 May 2016:
From a news report 8 May 2016:
After months of largely avoiding questions about Donald Trump, Sen. John McCain broke his silence about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's provocative rhetoric that targeted McCain last summer.
Trump ignited a firestorm last July for his criticism of McCain, asserting he was only a war hero "because he was captured."
"I like people that weren't captured," Trump said then.
In a CNN interview Sunday, the Arizona senator called on Trump to apologize to former prisoners of war.
"I think it's important for Donald Trump to express his appreciation for veterans," McCain said.
The Arizona Republican, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who spent years in captivity after being shot down during the war, emphasized that the apology should not be about him.
"What he said about me, John McCain, that's fine. I don't require any repair of that," McCain said. "But when he said, 'I don't like people who were captured,' then there's a body of American heroes, and I'd like to see him retract that statement. Not about me, but about the others."
Though McCain said he'd support Trump's presidential bid, he added that Trump's ad-hominem attacks during the campaign bothered him "a lot."
End of news report
My comments:
Although I support many of Mr. Trump's stated positions during this primary season, I fully agree with the above comments by Senator McCain. Except for one. Mr. Trump's apology should extend to Senator McCain as well. Mr. Trump, Senator McCain is a hero. Many of us say stupid things. What you said about Senator McCain was stupid and incredibly unfeeling. Please apologize to him and get on with your campaign. I can support you, but not without the apology to POW veterans Senator McCain calls for and not without an apology to Senator McCain as well. I am a Vietnam War veteran.
WAR IN SYRIA
Harrowing account of slaughter in Syrian hospital from Russian or Syrian air strikes in NYTimes op-ed 4May16 by a Syrian doctor there. Asalaamu alaykum.
The United States needs to exert its influence and power to bring this senseless and disgusting warfare devastating innocent civilians to an end.
Harrowing account of slaughter in Syrian hospital from Russian or Syrian air strikes in NYTimes op-ed 4May16 by a Syrian doctor there. Asalaamu alaykum.
The United States needs to exert its influence and power to bring this senseless and disgusting warfare devastating innocent civilians to an end.
Friday, May 6, 2016
DEFEATING ISIS
The Islamic State, aka ISIS or ISIL, is not going to be defeated until the U.S. and other countries fighting it put an army in Syria and Iraq to destroy it. A spokesman for the defense ministry of Saudi Arabia was quoted as saying his kingdom would be willing to participate in ground operations against ISIS. The United States should encourage the Saudis to make good on that pledge and urge other nations to follow suit.
The Islamic State, aka ISIS or ISIL, is not going to be defeated until the U.S. and other countries fighting it put an army in Syria and Iraq to destroy it. A spokesman for the defense ministry of Saudi Arabia was quoted as saying his kingdom would be willing to participate in ground operations against ISIS. The United States should encourage the Saudis to make good on that pledge and urge other nations to follow suit.
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