How Obama can really defeat Isis in Syria, Iraq and beyond

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/10/-sp-obama-fight-isis-syria-iraq-generals

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How to dismantle Isis, by Ret Adm James G Stavridis

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Goals: know the resources, but don’t blink

To contain Isis, you must understand its resources – of fighters and ammunition, fuel and financial support – that allow Isis to flourish. Then, cut those off, essentially turning the organization inside-out to kill it. But you must put safeguards must in place to ensure the fire does not, in effect, re-flash the moment you look away.

Strategies: a three-front war to degrade resources, then western on-the-ground troops to re-train Iraqis ... and an anti-gang future

Outcomes:

What the pundits are missing: airstrikes aren’t enough

Bombing just won’t be sufficient. Isis demands a western force on the ground, roughly along the lines of what is envisioned in Afghanistan – and what we already discussed with the Iraqi government. The ground forces would not start at 10,000-15,000 troops, of course, but the number could built up to that many over many months; they would most certainly be trainers, mentors and logisticians – but some would have to be special forces, combat aviators and quick-reaction combat forces. And the Sunni-Shia conflict driving so much of this is not unlike the Wars of the Reformation– those took a century to conclude ... and still sputter along in Northern Island three centuries later. This is going to take a long time.

Yes, you can really defeat Isis, by Ret Lt Gen Michael D Barbero

Goals: a key political ingredient with the necessary military ingredients

For any strategy, you must incentivize the Sunni population in Iraq to expel Isis from the occupied areas. This means allowing Sunnis to perceive representation in the new government in Baghdad and trying to remove the threat of Isis from occupied Sunni areas. You must have both the political and military.

Strategies: arm Iraqis and Kurds, keep up the airstrikes and choke off external Isis funding

Outcomes:

What the pundits are missing: time waits for no one

The more time passes, the more Isis benefits. The longer we wait, the more we fail to support Iraqi security forces and Kurdish forces – when they could be conducting offensive operations against Isis. We can’t just complain about Isis, because they’re only becoming stronger and more entrenched by the day.

A real coalition of the willing, by Ret Maj Gen Paul D Eaton

Goals: don’t degrade and destroy without diplomacy

The disrupt-and-defeat phase may be coming, but the US would be foolish not to apply our diplomatic, economic and military power simultaneously. This means developing a a coalition to deploy joint ground forces – to encircle Isis and reduce it territorial control. This means filling the vacuum with help from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraqi, Iran and Jordan. And it means isolating Isis, denying access to the international banking system while ID-ing its donors – and punishing them. We can provide airspace management over Iraq and Syria, but it’s not just our military might.

Strategies: make Isis cash-only, storm the ground with a coalition and empower Sunni leaders

Outcomes:

What the pundits are missing: everything

The media has observed. Congress has surrendered decision-making to the executive branch – sitting on the sidelines, carping and whining. We must demand an articulate mission statement before we again embark on warfare. We must demand an endgame that addresses failed assumptions and avoids sequels. President Obama can deliver that, just not in one speech.