They (ISIS) are a few thousand (even if it's 20-30,000) idiotic, Islamic, extremist, terrorists. I will consider them that, Mr. President, just as I consider David Koresh (and others) to have been an idiotic, Christian, extremist and terrorist.
They will talk about trying to bomb/bring war to us, but so do idiotic, (insert religion), extremist terrorists and governments everywhere. Most are so poorly trained, they would run out of bullets before they hit a target, which is why they prefer to blow things up.
Some are more well-trained, and ISIS seems to be, however... so are the terrorists in Africa, who say they hate the west, and the U.S. and that they are coming for us. Why aren't we scared that some idiots over there are threatening? lol. Because they are ridiculous idle threats.
(More below the Squiggly)
And even though ISIS has more organization (it seems) than most of these third-world groups, and certainly some better public relations and advertising functions (curious), they present no threat to the United States homeland. No matter what they say. Some of their members are Americans, people say? lol. Like the CIA, FBI, TSA, etc don't know who they are... and, ahem, my point on people who take up arms against the United States or claim allegiance to another nation is clear: The law is clear: If you do either, you thus forfeit your citizenship.
Yes, ISIS has killed a 2-3 American journalists. Beheaded them. Disgusting, yes. Vile, yes. Makes me angry, yes. But these are individual Americans who chose to go into an area where they knew this was a potential hazard- we call them brave for doing their jobs, and that is because they know the risks they face, and do it anyway. I greatly respect and am humbled by them. I am also a journalist, but in a much safer way. I was also a member of the U.S. Navy's ground forces, but did not serve in combat.
America is not threatened by this crazy little group. Yes, 20-30 thousand is small. Individual Americans are only in danger by them if they choose to go to that region. Yes, our allies in that neighborhood are threatened... and you know what? We've given all of our "allies" over there BILLIONS in aid and sold them BILLIONS in military armament each year for 20+ years.
It is their responsibility, if they want to remain our allies and receive these gifts, to make it safe for Americans to do business in their countries. But that should be their second concern... they face a more immediate threat from these terrorists: Their own countries are being overrun or face potential threat of it...
The Saudis have a larger air force (compliments of our U.S. Air Force), than the nation of Australia. And yet while Australia has offered to join in the air battle, the Saudis will not publicly acknowledge this.
Here are a few points to consider or ask yourself:
Is it worth the lives of a few dozen, hundred or thousand American troops, because a couple of Americans chose to go into a horribly dangerous area?
Is it worth hundreds of billions of dollars to do whatever this action turns into? (Maybe trillions.)
There is a guy in charge of a real country that is theoretically in range of sending a nuke to Hawaii, and he threatens to do so a couple of times a year. And yes, they have nukes. That seems a much greater threat than some guys with guns, a couple of tanks and an anti-air missile or two. Hmmm, which is the greater threat? Why aren't we invading this idiotic, atheistic, extremist country? Oh, yeah, North Korea has about a million man army, and there's no oil. But then, we also don't do any business with them. Oh yeah, no economic reason for it.
Once again- Why do we have allies in the Middle East who we give BILLIONS to? Many reasons, but one should definitely be that they take care of their own defenses to help make it safe for us to still be friends and visit and do business.
If they can't keep it safe in their neighborhood, then perhaps we shouldn't visit, spend money or do business in their neighborhood... or give them any money.
------ -- --- - -- - - -
All of that said... Here's some fodder for anyone who wants to start a conspiracy theory: Why does this little group suddenly scare us so much and our Congress and President sprint to make it into a major military action?
Hmmm... could it be because for the last 12 years, our nation has been at war and our economy has come to greatly depend on the jobs that the private sector provides building the planes, bombs and providing security services.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower (a Republican and retired Army General) warned us 60+ years ago:
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
__ _ _ _ _
This is not America's war. This is a war the countries in the middle east should not only fight, but should also fund and lead.