General Discussion

Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

25. The nukes killed far more innocent people than ISIS have so far.

Tue Sep 2, 2014, 01:56 PM

Sep 2014

And I think that ISIS's response to opposition is likely to be anger and aggression, not fear and backing down.

I suspect - although I am very much armchair quarterbacking - that the only think that will/would stop them would be a ground war by superior forces.

I think the West is unlikely to supply the ground part of that force, but might well end up supporting e.g. Iraqi troops from the air quite heavily.

But even that will probably involve a lot of innocent people getting killed.

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God damn it! BREAKING MSNBC: Reports that Sotloff has been beheaded by ISIS [View all] ChisolmTrailDem Sep 2014 OP

This is unfortunate philosslayer Sep 2014 #1

you win for understatement of the year. Tuesday Afternoon Sep 2014 #19

+.000001 Boom Sound 416 Sep 2014 #140

Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #20

Are you nuts? They are crazy. HERVEPA Sep 2014 #27

They kill people who don't believe as they do. hrmjustin Sep 2014 #37

And it is important to note that this includes fellow practitioners of Islam Algernon Moncrieff Sep 2014 #129

Absolutely! hrmjustin Sep 2014 #130

Really? yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #42

I'm sure you just forgot your sarcasm thingie get the red out Sep 2014 #45

yes...philosslayer has a different take than I do. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #53

Flossy from HP Aerows Sep 2014 #107

What???? 840high Sep 2014 #61

Nice one. You'd think none of the responses had ever read your posts before Scootaloo Sep 2014 #74

I figured you more than anyone would appreciate it. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #79

I'm not sure "appreciate" is the right word, there Scootaloo Sep 2014 #83

Not everyone keeps track of everyone else on here. HERVEPA Sep 2014 #104

Some people are extra-memorable, though. Scootaloo Sep 2014 #106

Maybe we should have left Sadam alone maxrandb Sep 2014 #78

... SammyWinstonJack Sep 2014 #134

+1 nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #154

assuming you were being sarcastic... Sheepshank Sep 2014 #98

I think you are taking this waaaaay to serious. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #124

That was sarcasm right? Right? nt Fla Dem Sep 2014 #110

yes..it was directed at the person i was reponding to. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #122

cannot do it DustyJoe Sep 2014 #123

Joe... it was sarcasm. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #125

Your slip is showing. n/m ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2014 #155

Welcome to DU 1st Officer Spock! Kaleva Sep 2014 #144

I just heard Krystal Ball report it on MSNBC. BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #2

sadly these two despicable deaths will probably make bipartisan calls to invade someone spanone Sep 2014 #3

That's what worries me. The last thing we need! B Calm Sep 2014 #8

unfortunately, yes G_j Sep 2014 #22

Yeah, heads are going to roll over this mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #32

Worst pun of the day. nt geek tragedy Sep 2014 #39

Yeah, sorry about that mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #87

The carving up of the middle east Tansy_Gold Sep 2014 #86

Really? I don't know much of the details mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #88

After WW1 Scootaloo Sep 2014 #97

The present day countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan former9thward Sep 2014 #102

Thank you both for the information mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #172

Drone traffic headed their way. lpbk2713 Sep 2014 #4

Oh hell! How sickening. Cleita Sep 2014 #5

Horrifyingly sickening, Cleita. We need to do something about it. nt ChisolmTrailDem Sep 2014 #7

I'm wondering why they are poking the bear because it seems they are? Cleita Sep 2014 #16

They're probably getting paid by Cheney to 'poke the bear'. n/t woodsprite Sep 2014 #23

I think they see US ground forces as a recruiting tool Adsos Letter Sep 2014 #60

I agree. I don't think we can avoid it. Cleita Sep 2014 #64

I've heard it mentioned a number of times that is probably their plan. I'm afraid this will RKP5637 Sep 2014 #94

As mentioned by someone on MSNBC tonight, they have a huge structural problem Ex Lurker Sep 2014 #162

So further entanglement in the Middle East phil89 Sep 2014 #177

Did I say "something" has to be boots on the ground? nt ChisolmTrailDem Sep 2014 #179

BBC also reporting this nitpicker Sep 2014 #6

Calls for "taking the gloves off" already (Ayman Moyheldeen, MSNBC)... nt ChisolmTrailDem Sep 2014 #9

CNN: ISIS video shows beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff bananas Sep 2014 #126

Since I cant figure out whats allowed and what isnt.. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #10

Then you have more in common with them than I do with either of you. nt Electric Monk Sep 2014 #43

I agree get the red out Sep 2014 #47

Enlist RandiFan1290 Sep 2014 #49

Thank you. Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #77

Wash off the Cheetos dust and get to work! RandiFan1290 Sep 2014 #81

This message was self-deleted by its author get the red out Sep 2014 #67

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Peacetrain Sep 2014 #11

Why don't we ever play hardball with them? Generic Other Sep 2014 #12

Are you advocating the US go to war against them? Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #13

The US is already at war against them. morningfog Sep 2014 #15

No not really Generic Other Sep 2014 #44

These are the people who routinely destroy other Muslims' holy sites starroute Sep 2014 #58

Hard to believe there is no way to stop them short of war Generic Other Sep 2014 #63

War is what happens when a situation is too screwed up to resolve peacefully starroute Sep 2014 #113

Yes the real culprits paint and enjoy their sunny retirements Generic Other Sep 2014 #150

These fanatics are a danger to most of the countries in the ME - I think it would be best if we got jwirr Sep 2014 #59

Who do you mean by they? Generic Other Sep 2014 #65

Yes, we do miss him!! I meant a coalition of ME leaders. It is them that ISIS is threatening. And jwirr Sep 2014 #72

B and C lost us all moral authority Generic Other Sep 2014 #84

Exactly. The people of the ME have witnessed first hand what those two did. jwirr Sep 2014 #120

Agree, where is Saudi Arabia in all of this? The pampered elite of the Middle East Fla Dem Sep 2014 #118

Fla Dem, the international pundits are asking why our so-called allies in saidsimplesimon Sep 2014 #121

I'm pretty sure we're already past that point Renew Deal Sep 2014 #90

The nukes killed far more innocent people than ISIS have so far. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2014 #25

As was predicted by many after 9/11, there is really no winning a war against terrorism. justiceischeap Sep 2014 #29

They are no longer operating as terrorists starroute Sep 2014 #62

But they are outsiders Generic Other Sep 2014 #71

"As was predicted by many after 9/11, there is really no winning a war against terrorism." TommyCelt Sep 2014 #132

I was referring to the plan to bomb Fuji as a show of force Generic Other Sep 2014 #46

Nothing that large numbers of innocent people don't also value, I suspect N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Sep 2014 #73

True Generic Other Sep 2014 #80

Give ISIS time SnakeEyes Sep 2014 #128

How do you know we aren't playing hardball with them? underthematrix Sep 2014 #33

True, I don't know Generic Other Sep 2014 #48

"I'm a pacifist. Let's nuke something" Scootaloo Sep 2014 #40

I did not mean to advocate nukes Generic Other Sep 2014 #50

On paper, the solution is relatively simple Scootaloo Sep 2014 #70

This sounds like a reasonable plan Generic Other Sep 2014 #75

"We need to encourage a coalition between the four states most involved.... Rhinodawg Sep 2014 #85

well, as I pointed out... Scootaloo Sep 2014 #91

I hope we can dry up their funding and get the $400 million from the Mosul bank CTyankee Sep 2014 #108

Honestly, I think anyone with an ISIS flag should get a missile. delta17 Sep 2014 #147

We are playing hardball, we're letting our enemies kill each other Hippo_Tron Sep 2014 #161

Fucking monsters. NuclearDem Sep 2014 #14

Their method of beheading is particularly barbaric. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2014 #17

Sadly, I think that's the plan. TDale313 Sep 2014 #24

Oh nooooooo ...... polly7 Sep 2014 #18

horrible so sad right now rbrnmw Sep 2014 #21

Maybe the US should stop bombing people in the ME. ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #26

Given that ISIS is also butchering fellow believers of the Islamic faith Mike Daniels Sep 2014 #28

How are large grous of people radicalized? ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #36

Ok, in thi situation, two words; power vacuum. JNelson6563 Sep 2014 #66

Do you think the US helped to create that power vacuum? nt ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #76

The US created it, no question. JNelson6563 Sep 2014 #157

Favorite catch phrase of neocons - "power vacuum" anti partisan Sep 2014 #115

does anyone really know who ISIS is? underthematrix Sep 2014 #38

Sen. McCain probably does tularetom Sep 2014 #56

Do Not Get Between John McCain and a Camera. Cha Sep 2014 #149

+1 grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #34

heartbreaking riverwalker Sep 2014 #30

Now we can attack Assad! We started this. Out now. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #31

Ugh. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #35

They are obeying the quran highmindedhavi Sep 2014 #41

oh we're playing crazy holy book verses Enrique Sep 2014 #54

Hmmm... KansDem Sep 2014 #57

He doesn't have to be that. Kablooie Sep 2014 #176

They're also disobeying it, chief Scootaloo Sep 2014 #93

What if we use the quran against them by creating some sort kiranon Sep 2014 #160

Damn deutsey Sep 2014 #51

Someone sure wants to drag us back into Iraq. Old and In the Way Sep 2014 #52

I think the problem with that is that we don't have great intel inside Syria. Someone we can..... Tarheel_Dem Sep 2014 #69

Yesterday a Pentagon guy on CNN mentioned that Snowden's leaks flamingdem Sep 2014 #138

I don't know why anyone would be surprised by that. There's no doubt that Snowden has damaged.... Tarheel_Dem Sep 2014 #139

Yes--the Snowden leaks have damaged our intel capabilities. nt msanthrope Sep 2014 #170

Besides the names of agents he mentioned communications flamingdem Sep 2014 #175

He is a traitor. And he ran to Putin. nt msanthrope Sep 2014 #181

The target seems to be Syria. KurtNYC Sep 2014 #92

Well Bush Inc did add Syria to Teh Axis of Teh Evil leftstreet Sep 2014 #101

Syria was one of the infamous "7 countries in 5 years" KurtNYC Sep 2014 #109

For geo-strategic purposes? Old and In the Way Sep 2014 #105

the Saudis and Isreal want Assad out KurtNYC Sep 2014 #114

I don't think either Israel nor Saudi Arabia would prefer ISIS to replace Assad Hippo_Tron Sep 2014 #164

exactly, no one wants ISIS to replace any government in that area so... KurtNYC Sep 2014 #167

No it doesn't really set us up to save the day, we're bloodletting Hippo_Tron Sep 2014 #173

Obama tried to go to Syria once. Second time's a charm! morningfog Sep 2014 #117

Very sad. However, I wish we cared as much for every innocent person the US military kills. morningfog Sep 2014 #55

Thank you! missingthebigdog Sep 2014 #100

+ 1 lunasun Sep 2014 #152

+1 nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #156

My brain and heart are fighting over this graywarrior Sep 2014 #68

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. And there really is no perfect answer, damn if RKP5637 Sep 2014 #103

This is sad, and no doubt an effort to draw us back in. But how many more Americans are in line.... Tarheel_Dem Sep 2014 #82

Okay, let me see if I understand.... missingthebigdog Sep 2014 #158

So fucking sad...crying. RiffRandell Sep 2014 #89

isis is dangerous, single minded revolting and we need to stop them now samsingh Sep 2014 #95

^^this^^ Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #136

what does ^^this^^ mean? samsingh Sep 2014 #141

that one agrees with the post. Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #143

excellent samsingh Sep 2014 #166

We should plan on fixing their little red wagon, and soon. TwilightGardener Sep 2014 #96

oh my god, that poor man. Raffi Ella Sep 2014 #99

Beheading a journalist is awful. So is blowing off heads of a lot of innocent people with our bombs. Hoyt Sep 2014 #111

Yep, both are wrong mvd Sep 2014 #116

Exactly. Prior to bush's invasion, almost 1 million Christians lived in relative peace in Iraq. Hoyt Sep 2014 #119

Next up is a British journalist octoberlib Sep 2014 #112

George "fuckhead Bush & Dick Cheney just had to get in there and stir up that .... Botany Sep 2014 #127

You Break it, You bought it. Yep, we sure did break it, didn't we? jillan Sep 2014 #133

ISIS wasn't in existence and al Qaeda wasn't operating in any area that was controlled ... Botany Sep 2014 #146

Disagree with your last point SnakeEyes Sep 2014 #153

So drone and air strikes? SnakeEyes Sep 2014 #131

Hopefully that is a big reason that President Obama is being cautious cpwm17 Sep 2014 #148

hey, it's all good Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #135

When I heard Dorian Gray Sep 2014 #137

___ In_The_Wind Sep 2014 #142

And now Rick Scott blames Obama for lack of strategy. Asshole vanlassie Sep 2014 #145

Steven Sotloff~ :( Cha Sep 2014 #151

I bet we can choke these fools off financially taught_me_patience Sep 2014 #159

We need to pull every American out of the Middle East Marrah_G Sep 2014 #163

I cannot imagine the pain the family is going through Marrah_G Sep 2014 #165

As a Desert Storm Vet. So what? This is all designed to get us into a war. Katashi_itto Sep 2014 #168

Thank you for your service, and I agree with you, No War. Raffi Ella Sep 2014 #171

The solution... macllyr Sep 2014 #169

Sometimes I feel like the best course of action is to stop flooding that part of the world raouldukelives Sep 2014 #174

So we're taking the bait phil89 Sep 2014 #178

Boy! You sure read a LOT into my initial reaction to hearing this horrifying news. Sotloff's life ChisolmTrailDem Sep 2014 #180