Does America have the desire for a long fight ....

[righteousdude2]

... in a battle to destroy terrorism?

I say that polls favoring taking the war to the terrorists will erode rather quickly once Americans start dying in a war like campaign.

 

[Use of Time]

... in a battle to destroy terrorism?

I say that polls favoring taking the war to the terrorists will erode rather quickly once Americans start dying in a war like campaign.

That is a good question. I'm somewhat torn. I think ISIS is a problem that is only going to get worse if ignored but I am really hesitant to volunteer our service folks for another tough fight when they just got out of an exhausting decade long campaign. This is when it would be great if the rest of the world could maybe contribute instead of it always being us.

 

[Don]

That is a good question. I'm somewhat torn. I think ISIS is a problem that is only going to get worse if ignored but I am really hesitant to volunteer our service folks for another tough fight when they just got out of an exhausting decade long campaign. This is when it would be great if the rest of the world could maybe contribute instead of it always being us.

I would say, it depends on what the end goal is. "Eradication of terrorism"? Never happen. There will always be terrorism, as long as some fanatic thinks he's the only one with the truth.

Give us a clear end state; use the "SMART" method (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).

I would agree with you about "exhausting." Any action taken, especially military-wise, should be quick and decisive.

I'll say this: "one year" is a way of putting any measurable results after the next elections, and just before the 2015 elections. "One year" is political maneuvering, not military strategy.

 

[just-want-peace]

That is a good question. I'm somewhat torn. I think ISIS is a problem that is only going to get worse if ignored but I am really hesitant to volunteer our service folks for another tough fight when they just got out of an exhausting decade long campaign. This is when it would be great if the rest of the world could maybe contribute instead of it always being us.

Gotta say I agree with this.
However until this nation, as a whole, gets it's head outta the sand and understands that POLITICS just ain't gonna accomplish a miracle, and that the only true solution is a return to God, nothing worthwhile is going to occur. :jesus:

 

[Use of Time]

I guess I am fine with the airstrikes for the moment. That at least lets us destroy all of the fancy toys they acquired from the Iraqi Army. Maybe some specific targeting of high ranking operatives in the ISIS chain of command by our special forces community. I just don't know at this point.

 

[carpro]

... in a battle to destroy terrorism?

I say that polls favoring taking the war to the terrorists will erode rather quickly once Americans start dying in a war like campaign.

In a word: No.

Somewhere along the line, it might actually require some individual sacrifice from a lot of people. In this age of takers, I don't think they can put down their cellphones long enough to care..

 

[Use of Time]

In a word: No.

Somewhere along the line, it might actually require some individual sacrifice from a lot of people. In this age of takers, I don't think they can put down their cellphones long enough to care..

I hear this about my generation a lot but keep in mind that this generations of "takers" just spent over ten years in two different middle eastern countries.

 

[InTheLight]

Maybe some specific targeting of high ranking operatives in the ISIS chain of command by our special forces community. I just don't know at this point.

I think this school of thought is gaining steam. Expand special forces personnel, train and equip them with the high-tech weapons, use more drones, and basically take out ISIS's top "officers" and mid level terrorists. A large invasion force won't be tolerated by US citizens, but a tight knit group of heroes running specialized missions might be.

 

[righteousdude2]

I hear this about my generation a lot but keep in mind that this generations of "takers" just spent over ten years in two different middle eastern countries.

I think it is fair to say that a large group of very patriotic folks spent more time than should have been expected, in a long drawn-out war. I salute those who sacrificed years of deployment, and feel for what must be disappointing to watch as ISIS runs wild over the cities they gave 100% for.

Unfortunately, there is a larger portion of Americans who care, but only for a period of time, then they get restless and move on to wanting peace. There is also a large portion of the people in this country, that could not care less, so long as it doesn't affect them! They are the NIMBY folks!

If ISIS came to this country and started lobbing rockets into cities and towns, there may be a lot more folks willing to do more than complain and be bored with war. Nevertheless, truthfully, UOT, Americans have really never seen a war close up and personal, so their experience with a war is a movie, video game, or what they read in the press. And movies get the war over within 120 minutes. Video games can be turned off, and the dead people in the game can come back to fight another day! As for the media, people are swayed by what they read in print or see on television, and the problem is, media outlets are not for a war unless it means ratings! Once those ratings fade, so does their coverage, and soon the war is shelved for the latest child molester, killing of a thug by a cop, or the problems in DC.

I was spat on in the airport during the Viet Nam conflict, and that attitude has permeated the society in more ways than most realize War is not glamorous; it has a dark, stark reality when GIs start coming back in flag-draped coffins, and people lose interest quickly. In fact, most Americans don't have an appetite for war. Like I said, if it's far away, is easier to applaud in the beginning and boo as it grows old and costs build up and peace-nicks.

I think if the people were thrown into a war for their own way of life and wellbeing, they may look at war differently! Right now, we are fed up with war. And any outrage over the beheadings will last as long as the outrage over the twin towers on 9/11.

There is a lot of thought out response coming in on this, let's keep it going.

 

[Use of Time]

I think it is fair to say that a large group of very patriotic folks spent more time than should have been expected, in a long drawn-out war. I salute those who sacrificed years of deployment, and feel for what must be disappointing to watch as ISIS runs wild over the cities they gave 100% for.

Unfortunately, there is a larger portion of Americans who care, but only for a period of time, then they get restless and move on to wanting peace. There is also a large portion of the people in this country, that could not care less, so long as it doesn't affect them! They are the NIMBY folks!

If ISIS came to this country and started lobbing rockets into cities and towns, there may be a lot more folks willing to do more than complain and be bored with war. Nevertheless, truthfully, UOT, Americans have really never seen a war close up and personal, so their experience with a war is a movie, video game, or what they read in the press. And movies get the war over within 120 minutes. Video games can be turned off, and the dead people in the game can come back to fight another day! As for the media, people are swayed by what they read in print or see on television, and the problem is, media outlets are not for a war unless it means ratings! Once those ratings fade, so does their coverage, and soon the war is shelved for the latest child molester, killing of a thug by a cop, or the problems in DC.

I was spat on in the airport during the Viet Nam conflict, and that attitude has permeated the society in more ways than most realize War is not glamorous; it has a dark, stark reality when GIs start coming back in flag-draped coffins, and people lose interest quickly. In fact, most Americans don't have an appetite for war. Like I said, if it's far away, is easier to applaud in the beginning and boo as it grows old and costs build up and peace-nicks.

I think if the people were thrown into a war for their own way of life and wellbeing, they may look at war differently! Right now, we are fed up with war. And any outrage over the beheadings will last as long as the outrage over the twin towers on 9/11.

There is a lot of thought out response coming in on this, let's keep it going.

I appreciate this post. I took various history courses in college and I always seemed to gravitate towards the World War II era mostly because it seemed to be the last time this country banded together as a whole to beat back an enemy.

 

[righteousdude2]

I appreciate this post. I took various history courses in college and I always seemed to gravitate towards the World War II era mostly because it seemed to be the last time this country banded together as a whole to beat back an enemy.

Agreed. This must be one voice and united. I don't see it happening unless the terrorists somehow bring the battle closer to home, and when that happens you will see radical Islam soundly defeated.

 

[just-want-peace]

Agreed. This must be one voice and united. I don't see it happening unless the terrorists somehow bring the battle closer to home, and when that happens you will see radical Islam soundly defeated.

I hope you are right, but I don't expect that even a war on our soil will consolidate this nation. IMHO, there are too many factions that are concerned only with their own personal wealth/power/status etc. for any binding cohesion. As you noted, 9-11 is a good example of the IMMEDIATE unity, but how quickly the unity dissolved!!!:BangHead:

As some one in the past said, paraphrased of course; "This form of government will only work for a moral & Godly people." This eliminates, again IMHO, the majority of this citizenry on both counts.:tear:

 

[righteousdude2]

Maybe ...

I hope you are right, but I don't expect that even a war on our soil will consolidate this nation. IMHO, there are too many factions that are concerned only with their own personal wealth/power/status etc. for any binding cohesion. As you noted, 9-11 is a good example of the IMMEDIATE unity, but how quickly the unity dissolved!!!:BangHead:

As some one in the past said, paraphrased of course; "This form of government will only work for a moral & Godly people." This eliminates, again IMHO, the majority of this citizenry on both counts.:tear:

... but those radicals on our soil will meet up with the entire force of the NRA. That should send them packing :smilewinkgrin:

 

[carpro]

I hear this about my generation a lot but keep in mind that this generations of "takers" just spent over ten years in two different middle eastern countries.

I don't consider our all volunteer military a representative sample of the general public and their attitudes.