Quite correct - war is not the answer.

Discrediting the naïve ideology of Islamist extremists (ie their notion that basing a state on the enforcement of Islamic law can be a real solution to the historic problem that Muslim societies have endured). How this might be achieved is suggested in 'Challenging the Ideology of Islamic State').
http://cpds.apana.org.au/Teams/Articles/discouraging_extremism.htm#6_9_14

As the latter points out a primary focus on 'war' is likely to be just as counter-productive in dealing with the (so called) 'Islamic State' as it has proven to be in the past in dealing with other ignorant / alienated 'outsiders' who have resorted to violence

Why do we try and keep the jihadists in Australia we should fly them to ISIS free of charge and hope they never return. If they attempt to return they should be denied entry to Australia.

More "Ivory Tower" dreaming I'm afraid, fine principles and lots of words, I suggest the authors go try arranging all that with ISIS, see how far they get!
Rational solutions rarely work with the irrational, especially once religion enters the equation, there's apparently little room for rationality in the human head once "god" arrives, especially since "belief" requires the suspension of all logic and common-sense.
It's historically held that it's difficult to kill an Idea, but in this case I'll quite happily support killing all the brains that contain it, that works for me!

Onya, Bruce. It's great to see another 'thinker' on OLO!

P.S. My latest post is entitled, 'Should All Gods Be Beheaded'.

Oh god! Ever heard of Bosnia Richard? This sounds like a rerun of the UN policy there, which proved as useful as tits on a bull.

Ever heard of Chamberlain, & his peace in our time bulldust? Yep, you sound just like him.

Anyone who refers anything to the UN for consideration is a total idiot, or is getting a quid out of it somehow. Which shoe fits mate?

It's not much good surrendering to these people Richard, they are just as happy beheading those who surrender as those who resist. It is the way they prove they are tough, cutting the heads of people kneeling in front of them.

How secure does your neck feel Richard? Sticking your head in the sand doesn't actually protect your neck you know.

We keep coming back to beheadings as the core reason ISIS must be defeated, and if that means bombs away over Iraq and Syria, so be it.
Interesting that one of our true "allies" in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, has lopped off the top of 46 people so far in 2014 (according to Human Rights Watch). It seems on of the non-violent offences eliciting decapitation was sorcery, believe it or not.
And "boots on the ground" has about as much meaning as the words used in any breakfast food jingle.
If we were really serious about stopping the spread of ISIS, then an alignment with Syria would be a good place to start. But as that would mean going against the perceived wisdom of Washington and Tel Aviv, and Jiddah where beheading for sorcery is all the go, then we probably won't be doing anything so sensible. Get ready for a long campaign.