[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Iraq (in the beginning) was (technically) a war on a country though, against an entrenched leadership, with a somewhat standard army with defined bases with military equipment that could be destroyed, and with specific capture / conquer objectives. ISIS is an ideology, there's no leadership that isn't easily replaced, no head of the snake. There's nothing to bomb or capture that won't simply result in more displaced, angry people for them to convert to their hateful way of thinking and use as more cannon fodder.

ISIS is everywhere, you can't bomb it, it's like trying to cure someone of a virus by throwing rocks at them until they die.

The old 'Martyr Means Multiplication' crap does not wash with me T.S. I believe in good old maths - the more reductions in a total number, the less that total becomes.

ISIS - like the Islamic religion itself was originally spread - is spread by a combination of intimidation and financial inducement, and very few -- if any --- converts actually believe in its ideologies.

The rationale behind its spread, is the same as that behind the increase in child murder and a host of other crime - there has been no meaningful action taken to stop, punish and deter those responsible.

Success bolsters recruitment, and with each yard forward, with each severed head held aloft, with each ancient monument destroyed with impunity, warped-minded would-be killers flock to join this band of devils. Others, who are more mercenary but guarded, see ISIS unhalted success and decide that the great cash incentives offered to recruits courtesy of the captured oil fields and ransoms paid over to ISIS, are NOW worth the rapidly diminishing risk of being killed for their troubles.

Apathy, lethargy, impotency and dithering on the part of the Western powers have been ISIS's GREATEST recruitment aide.

You are building them up into some mythical status - ISIS is no Hydra. Yes, Commanders and heads can be replaced - but that is so in ANY army, but this is no; 'Cut off its head and two regrows' Hydra scenario.

Start to BEAT them and not only will you deplete their numbers by the 'Dead Injun' method, but those who join for money will think twice, those who have been 'press ganged' into joining ISIS will flee as the chance affords itself, and SUCCESS will breed further success .

They have far reaching tendrils - partly because of Western apathy and lethargy - but they are NOT unbeatable.

There are numerous defunct ideologies, and there is nothing like slaughtering the bastards who hold this evil ideology to ensure that it goes the same way.