"The only thing we have to fear is Fear itself". When we respond to dangerous and difficult situations out of fear we cut our own throats.
A wider more violent response to the horrible ideology is what ISIL are planning on.
Nicolas Henin, who was held captive for 10 months, described the strikes as a "trap" which is designed to force local people into the arms of ISIL as a protector.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/former_hostage_airstrikes_agai.html
More than 10 years of military campaigns in Iraq helped to generate ISIL. It seems unlikely to end it now.
There are other avenues of response more likely to stop ISIL. One is to starve its income. ISIL pretends to be an ideology but it functions more like a criminal gang and requires large amounts of cash to operate.Turkey has repeatedly refused to close their border to oil, antiquities other materials sold by ISIL to fund their activities. It has been alleged that a son of the Turkish president is profiteering hugely by facilitating this kind of trading activity. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have never admitted to their financial enabling of ISIL which continues as we speak.
Until "we" take on this level of action all others will likely fail. If bombing alone worked so effectively against ISIL it would have been done before now.
As far as attacks like those in San Bernardino, Paris and elsewhere it is sad testimony to the conditions here and there that racial and class hatreds can lead to such infamy. I don't excuse them by saying so. The ever increasing numbers of dead every day in America sadly reflect the degree to which class hatred has been empowered by demagogues like Trump, Beck and others less visible like Rove, Allies and Murdoch.
When we do not question the assumptions placed before us we empower the very fear they depend on. We should be listening to those who are asking the difficult questions. That is the response of the free and the brave. Not the tyranny of fear and anger.
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