[Tennisnut]

There is a old saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

I think that is what is being done in the Middle East by the US. Until the Sunnis and Shiites want to fish and protect their homeland we will only be feeding them for a day. I sense the Kurds already know how to fish and can continue to feed themselves for a lifetime.

[graciegirl]

This is indeed a real threat. Forget about the fish.

[Rags123]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Yes, we all know that ISIS is a huge threat. What concrete ideas does anyone have to resolve that threat?

First of all, ISIS began in Iraq in about 2006. First error was not insisting on allowing US troops to stay. Our President says he could not do that because he could not convince, as required, the Iraq government to agree. Many, on both sides of the aisle said it could have been done had we wanted.

"
But he had already announced this earlier this year, and the real significance today was in the failure of Obama, in spite of the cost to the US in dollars and deaths, to persuade the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to allow one or more American bases to be kept in the country."


Iraq rejects US request to maintain bases after troop withdrawal | World news | theguardian.com

Secondly, our indifference to the situation in Syria allowed them to strengthen. This was tricky, and while a "what to do" would have been difficult in Syria for sure, we certainly made it clear we were not going to be any kind of presence there at all, they just expanded their growth.

NOW, because of those non actions, we surely have a problem. They are surely not the only reasons, but our not being in Iraq as they grew, and not being involved in Syria have compounded the problem.

I am sure the administration is doing a lot, and in fact does "have a plan", but from my perspective.......

1. Secure our borders, especially the southern one, where the illegals are becoming surges. We already have an unconfirmed report of crossings there by ISIS posing as Central Americans, and some recruits from non Arab countries. This should be done LOUDLY and quickly.

2. The bombings we have started seem to have some affect. Selective targets will work for awhile.

3. Hopefully, we have already started working on the financial part of this..ie.,., tracing their money and trying to cut off as much as we can.

We are late in this battle, but I think we need to secure our homeland...borders, immigration, etc first. Hopefully we can avoid any substantial troop involvement, as that seems like a loss for us.

[Tennisnut]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

This is indeed a real threat. Forget about the fish.

That was real helpful! Some consider that a very wise saying. Apparently, it doesn't resonate with everyone.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

I am going to Israel in a few days to pray against evil. I am not unaware of the situation, nor afraid.

God be with you, Kitty. Prayer can be a powerful tool. Thanks for sharing this info - I'll be praying for you and the situation at hand.

[kittygilchrist]

Tnut, what you said is true...but in the face of a threat to survival...thinking turns to what is expedient above what is a long view.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

I am going to Israel in a few days to pray against evil. I am not unaware of the situation, nor afraid.

You go GIRL, the absence of fear defeats them.

[Tennisnut]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Tnut, what you said is true...but in the face of a threat to survival...thinking turns to what is expedient above what is a long view.

That is so true, however, that is why history continues to repeat itself. The names change but the same problems exist.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by Rags123

First of all, ISIS began in Iraq in about 2006. First error was not insisting on allowing US troops to stay. Our President says he could not do that because he could not convince, as required, the Iraq government to agree. Many, on both sides of the aisle said it could have been done had we wanted.

"
But he had already announced this earlier this year, and the real significance today was in the failure of Obama, in spite of the cost to the US in dollars and deaths, to persuade the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to allow one or more American bases to be kept in the country."


Iraq rejects US request to maintain bases after troop withdrawal | World news | theguardian.com

Secondly, our indifference to the situation in Syria allowed them to strengthen. This was tricky, and while a "what to do" would have been difficult in Syria for sure, we certainly made it clear we were not going to be any kind of presence there at all, they just expanded their growth.

NOW, because of those non actions, we surely have a problem. They are surely not the only reasons, but our not being in Iraq as they grew, and not being involved in Syria have compounded the problem.

I am sure the administration is doing a lot, and in fact does "have a plan", but from my perspective.......

1. Secure our borders, especially the southern one, where the illegals are becoming surges. We already have an unconfirmed report of crossings there by ISIS posing as Central Americans, and some recruits from non Arab countries. This should be done LOUDLY and quickly.

2. The bombings we have started seem to have some affect. Selective targets will work for awhile.

3. Hopefully, we have already started working on the financial part of this..ie.,., tracing their money and trying to cut off as much as we can.

We are late in this battle, but I think we need to secure our homeland...borders, immigration, etc first. Hopefully we can avoid any substantial troop involvement, as that seems like a loss for us.

You are the first one to actually post possible ideas about what might be done to stop this real threat. All are good ideas, too.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by Tennisnut

There is a old saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

I think that is what is being done in the Middle East by the US. Until the Sunnis and Shiites want to fish and protect their homeland we will only be feeding them for a day. I sense the Kurds already know how to fish and can continue to feed themselves for a lifetime.

Yes, there is truth in the old saying... IMO it has no bearing on what is currently going on. ISIS doesn't (IMO) need fishing lessons, they need a butt kicking.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by nitehawk

Sounds just like what the Americans Christians did to the American Indians ----- also the European Christians explores did to the heathens in South America and elsewhere

Well, no...........

There is no parallel between the Islamic spread of their religion from its inception in Arabia and the Christian spread of their religion in the Americas.

First, you must separate the political exploration of the Americas for financial exploitation from the Christian efforts to Christianize the natives.

The Spanish explorers arrived in a quest for riches, specifically gold. They conquered the natives and subjugated them. However, they did not maim or kill the natives for the offense of not converting to Christianity. This is true for their expansion up through our southwest as well as down into South America.

And the English Pilgrims arriving on the East Coast were coming for religious freedom. There is no record of them killing natives for the offense of not converting to Christianity.

A MAJOR FACTOR in the decline of the natives is the inevitable conflict between a stone-age society and an industrialized one. The Europeans arrived with the resource of a culture that produced woven fabrics, metals, books, manufacturing, and most importantly firearms.

The natives had weapons made of wood and stone. And, often lost upon those who haven't studied much American history, until the arrival of the Spanish they didn't even have horses. It was inevitable that their culture would suffer when it came in contact with the Europeans.

IN CONTRAST when Islam was created, the religion was spread by the sword. As is happening now, the militant Islamics invaded regions and forced conversion to their faith. They did recognize that Jews and Christians had Holy Books of faith and would allow them as "people of the book" to retain their faith if they paid a tax. Others were forced to convert or die. That is how the Islamic faith spread across North Africa, and those countries remain Muslim to this day.

So, you see, there is no parallel between the Islamic spread of their religion from its inception in Arabia and the Christian spread of their religion in the Americas.

.

[Tennisnut]

Originally Posted by Patty55

Yes, there is truth in the old saying... IMO it has no bearing on what is currently going on. ISIS doesn't (IMO) need fishing lessons, they need a butt kicking.

Unfortunately, some take the literal translation of this proverb and do not recognize the lesson behind it. Yes kick ISIS butt, walk away, come back a few years later and kick someone else's butt. Sounds like past history. One needs to have a change in culture or these problems will continue to exist.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by Tennisnut

Unfortunately, some take the literal translation of this proverb and do not recognize the lesson behind it. Yes kick ISIS butt, walk away, come back a few years later and kick someone else's butt. Sounds like past history. One needs to have a change in culture or these problems will continue to exist.

Fortunately, I do recognize the lesson, I just don't agree that it's relevant. I don't want to wander into political opinions, but in my country if you do a good job at butt kicking there is nobody to come back in a few years and just maybe they would have a lot more respect for us.

I'm just hoping that the powers that be actually have a plan.

[billethkid]

we have become a timid nation.
ISIS is not...not one bit.
We worry about whether our actions will be popular (votes).
ISIS could care less.
We worry whether we might hurt someone while targeting the enemy.
Again ISIS could care less and in fact hides among the innocents.
We do not have a plan/strategy; quite the contrary we have announced we are not at war with ISIS.
ISIS does have a plan and are not ashamed of their intent and speak openly of killing as many Americans as possible.

In the current environment ISIS absolutely has the upper hand.
ISIS knows we will not come after them.
ISIS laughs as they SLAUGHTER those who do not fall in line with their beliefs.
ISIS is grateful for the USA's new open border policy, that provides open access to them with no threat of discovery.

If ISIS were a fire those in Washington would wait until they see the flames coming up Pennsylvania Avenue before DISCUSSING whether to take action.

There are many more lives going to be lost including Americans. There will be man more lives taken including increasing numbers of American HERE AT HOME. Now just exactly is it we the people are waiting for to rise up and demand action be taken? Since we have become a nation of reacting to SOME problems just what is it going to take for those in Washington to realize ISIS does not care about red or blue states or republicans or democrats or black or white or brown or whatever....ISIS will without hesitation SLAUGHTER them where they stand.

What is it going take?
Politics as usual is going to be responsible for many Americans deaths!
Recent history does not bode well for this country taking the steps needed.
Many more will die as a result.......now where is this overwhelming concern for making sure nobody gets hurt?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Tennisnut

There is a old saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

I think that is what is being done in the Middle East by the US. Until the Sunnis and Shiites want to fish and protect their homeland we will only be feeding them for a day. I sense the Kurds already know how to fish and can continue to feed themselves for a lifetime.

Very good point. This ISIS is a Middle Eastern problem until or if they attack targets in the UK, Europe, and/or the United States. Then it becomes an international one.

Arming the Kurds is a solution. I just hope that does not end up like arming the Iraqis in the Iran-Iraq War and the Afghanistani against the Soviets. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/...nm_flmg_prd_28