Why not let Kobani fall to ISIS and then just bomb it to pieces?

[Comrade Grumpy]

I don't think there's anybody left there except fighters. Withdraw and carpet bomb.

[Cleita]

1. There are the women and girls left. eom

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. They should leave now. Unless it's too late.

Personally, I think I might rather be bombed to death than taken by ISIS.

[Cleita]

4. They have been taken by ISIS according to the last report

I saw. that's my point.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. I have not seen the reports that ISIS is holding hostages in Kobani.

That makes things a bit messier, doesn't it?

This whole ISIS thing gives me huge headaches. I'm not a big fan of US military adventurism, think the global war on terror is misbegotten, think our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were crimes and errors of major proportions. But these ISIS guys are positively medieval. It's like they're the Mongol Horde or Tamerlane's army, and that's not black propaganda. That's their propaganda.

My reflexive response is that the US should quit being the world's policeman. But what do I say to the Yazidis, the Kurds, and everyone else being murdered, enslaved, terrorized by these guys?

[Cleita]

8. I can't post links on this device but various Brit sources have

reported as did Victoria Jones on FSTV this morning, the news segment of the Thom Hartmann show. I'm sure Google will get you there.

[Maedhros]

2. You're willing to bet the lives of everyone who might be trapped there,

based upon your belief that only fighters remain?

I think it's unlikely that all the civilians have left. Even in Stalingrad in 1941, during the largest and most brutal battle of the war, the citizens of the city remained, camped out in bomb craters and sewer tunnels and rubbled builidings.

I'd say leave the defense of Kobani to the Turks. They know best how to solve their border problems.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. No, I'm not willing to bet their lives. That's their call.

Those who remain in Kobani are betting their lives.

But I've seen reports saying there are very few civilians left there. Most of them have fled to Turkey.

I think whoever is left should just withdraw and then pulverize the place.

[Maedhros]

7. Sorry, I oppose the pulverization of cities. YMMV. [n/t]

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. I hear you. I'm not generally a big fan of it.

But then we have another ISIS stronghold.

I oppose the execution of helpless hostages, the mass murder of surrendered soldiers, the mass murder of ethnic minorities, the mass enslavement and sex slavery of female ethnic minorities. I assume you do, too. So, what do we do?

[Maedhros]

12. Our track record with "humanitarian" intervention in the Mid East is abysmal.

At this point, I believe anything we do involving military action will likewise generate more blowback than benefit. Past performance is the best predictor of future success or failure.

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. What is your policy prescription?

I'm really having a hard time coming up with any good ones.

[Maedhros]

16. Focus on refugee assistance, lock down the black market oil trades that ISIL relies upon

for financing, stop selling weapons to insurgent groups, apply diplomatic pressure to persuade regional powers to take action to curtail ISIL's advances.

I reject the idea that military intervention is a reasonable alternative to doing nothing, given our standing with the indigenous people of the region and our track record of making things worse.

[KamaAina]

10. "We had to destroy that village in order to save it."

[gratuitous]

13. America, fuck yeah!

I don't know why the OP is such a squish that he's willing for ISIS to take over Kobane (presumably on its way to Nirvana). Let's just glass the place today! That's the One True Way to everlasting peace.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. I'm open to other options. What have you got?

[former9thward]

17. Stop the war.

It is the only option. We can not 'win' this. Just as we can't win any war in the ME.

[Comrade Grumpy]

18. You mean stop US participation in the war? I don't think ISIS is stopping.

Que sera sera? Not our business?

I can understand that perspective. But that just leaves the region to the tender mercies of ISIS.

[former9thward]

19. No it leaves it to the people of the region.

We may not like the result but it the long run it is the only solution. Constant war is destroying us and not only financially. Why is it we can't have nice things? It is because of the Defense budget -- and other related expenses. It must end.

[Comrade Grumpy]

20. No one has been able or willing to stop ISIS.

I'm not real sanguine about a caliphate run by murderous mad men in the heart of the Middle East.

[Rhinodawg]

25. And yet...

You can't or won't see the real reason why this Islamic caliphate is taking over the ME.

What is the reason these 40,000 " murderous mad men" are flocking in droves to join Islamic state?

What belief system do they have that makes them believe that joining ISIS is the way to go?

Where belief system thinks that raping women, selling women as slaves and killing women is acceptable ?

Where do they get the idea of beheading "infidels" is a religious commandment as they stated publically?

Where do they get learn the idea of hanging GLBT people is a obligation?


You can avoid this question but until you think it through you'll never understand.

[customerserviceguy]

29. Neither is Iran

At some point, ISIS and Iran are going to get into it. It doesn't matter whether we do our 'surgical' strikes or not (only about 10% of our aircraft flying over ISIS-controlled territory drop their bombs) this meeting is inevitable. I predict Iran will have the guts to do what no one in the Western world will do.

Thirty years ago, Iran and Iraq fought a war to a draw. I'm not prepared to say which one will win this time, but I do expect that each side will pour even more into it than was done when Ronald Reagan was helping both sides kill each other.

[sadoldgirl]

11. Let Kobani go, and

expect ISIS to attack Turkey. Then Erdogan will cry for help after the Kurds have been killed.

[Orsino]

21. Why not use a nuclear warhead while we're at it?

Just to be sure there are no survivors?

[Marrah_G]

22. because innocent people will be trapped there

[Rhinodawg]

23. Wow.

advocating murder. Never thought I would see that here.

Who else do you want to "carpet bomb"?

[karynnj]

24. Will someone who knows him tell Comrade Grumpy that John McCain hijacked his DU account

Maybe he thought it was his?

The UN has spoken of a potential massacre of up to 10000 people, mostly elderly or for some other reason couldn't get out.

[unblock]

26. yes! the good citizens of kobani will sing our praises from their deathbeds!

[GitRDun]

27. We should stop bombing completely, let it fall.

This war, like all other wars is brought to you by Middle Eastern 1% ers who want to control the oil and maintain the status quo.

There is no military solution here.

Until the oil runs low, they'll keep killing each other in an endless quest to get or keep their fair share.

Turkey won't help the Kurds; tribal war.

Sunni countries in the region won't help their own people being attacked by ISIS.

The Shia in control of Iraq now want our troops back to put down a sectarian conflict which they are in part responsible for creating.

I don't see a US national interest in any of this.

I feel bad for the people, but if their own countrymen / tribes won't help, why should we bear the burden?

Just my opinion.

[KurtNYC]

28. "They train young men to drop fire on people.

But their commanders won't allow them to write 'f**k' on their airplanes because it is obscene. "