Regardless of how you want to point the finger at the USA and bring up nasty deeds committed over 40 years ago, the world moves on. We are in the here and now which includes a very nasty group terrorising Iraq.

Its fine to say ISIS is not the problem, the problem is that US policies created ISIS. But what next? Please James, tell us what to do about ISIS now that it has manifested and is brutally killing people, lots of people. ISIS isn't going to go away on its own. So please James, enlighten us as how to best address ISIS and to get them to stop the slaughter. No woofy talk, give us a real workable solution to consider. If you don't have a good alternative to offer up, your comments really are nothing more than verbal diarrhea.

@CH. I generally do not respond to people who hide behind a non de plume and that is especially the case when the comments are personalised and offensive.

If you think that the US's "bad deeds" were confined to 40 years ago you clearly have not been paying attention, either to the real world or the comments posted on this forum.

You want instant answers to complex issues. Read my last post and actually think about what I said. If you cannot do that then you might like to refrain from taking up time and space on this forum.

Joe I most certainly hope that you read letters to the editor in the Advertiser this morning, presuming you live in Adelaide, perhaps James O'neil, David G and myself are not the only ones who are worried about the consequences of the invasion in Iraq again. by the coalition of the willing.
Brian Paterson

Hi Onjab,

Do you mean, in response to the invasion by the most reactionary forces in the world today, the 'Caliphate" ?

And what happens if the US and its coalition doesn't get involved ? How long would the Iraqi government last ?

The US is in a terrible dilemma (which may gladden your heart): how to keep the 'Caliphate' and the Iranians apart. Because, if ISIS invades into the Shia heartland of Iraq, Iran will have to intervene (they already are, behind the scenes). And if that intervention becomes open, whether in defence of Iraq or of Assad in Syria, then the various reactionary Sunni powers, the Saudis and perhaps Turkey, will intervene as well, and then it will be on for young and old, from India to the Atlantic, and from Oman to central Asia.

If the US fails in this attempt, we WILL be drawn into a huge war. If they succeed - and that will take years, I suspect - then hopefully, the ISIS and al Qa'ida and Taliban and Al-shabaab etc. forces will be pushed back for a time.

But if ISIS and al-Qa'ida come to an agreement, then the combined reactionary forces of a 'Caliphate' will roll over the reactionary Assad forces in Syria and the Iraqi government as well. Then the Iranians will move in, in part quite legitimately to prevent huge massacres of Shia in both countries. If they do, the other Sunni powers, the Saudis, etc., will increase their funding of the ISIS-al Qa'ida forces, and we really will be in trouble.

So the US has to somehow prevent so much of that from happening, as early in the process as possible. It certainly is a 'witches brew of complexity'.

And what might be the flow-on in Indonesia of an ISIS-al Qa'ida victory, if the US doesn't get involved any further ? Do you really think your head is securely on your shoulders, not just for a year or two, or five years, but in ten years' time ?

Ultimately this is a struggle within Islam. But don't kid yourself.

Joe

Dear James I appreciate your generous exception and response to my comments.

I have gone back through both your previous posts and I still do not see one iota of a suggestion how the world can or should deal with the immediate crisis ISIS presents.

I agree if Australia had a different foreign policy the Government might take a different approach. But it doesn't. Same for the USA.

ISIS is more than a western propaganda stunt. I see a lot of talk but no real time practical alternatives being offered from you or Ojnab. I do see the beginnings of a self admiration society starting to form between all those who are paranoid enough to believe the USA is more dangerous to our way of life than letting ISIS go unchecked. That is my opinion is plain crazy.

I think we feel exactly the same about each other.