Missing From The Plans To Destroy ISIS: Debate And A Plan To Destroy ISIS

From The Federalist.

This indulgence so overwhelms our ruling class’s perception of reality that the recipes put forth by its several wings, little different from one another, are identical in the one essential respect: none of them involve any plans which, if carried out, would destroy the Islamic State, kill large numbers of the cut-throats, and discourage others from following in their footsteps. Hence, like the George W. Bush’s “war on terror” and for the same reasons, this exercise of our ruling class’s wisdom in foreign affairs will decrease respect for us while invigorating our enemies.

The WSJ’s recommendations, like the Obama administration’s projected activities, are all about discrete measures—some air strikes, some arming of local forces, etc. But they abstract from the fundamental reality of any and all activities: He who wills any end must will the means to achieve it. As in Bush’s war, as is the custom in Washington nowadays, our ruling class’s several sectors decide what actions they feel comfortable undertaking about any given problem, while avoiding reasonable judgment about whether these actions will actually fix the problem. This is the very definition of irresponsibility. But they call it “strategy.”

This is a pretty spot-on analysis of what ails us when it comes to foreign policy. As long as wars are fought to preserve the borders of politicians’ comfort zones thousands of miles away rather than focused on the destruction of an enemy, the enemy has an advantage. Modern American leaders rightfully praise the World War II military members as “The Greatest Generation”. Perhaps they should dust off a history book and familiarize themselves with the decision making and methods used to win that war.

As for the lack of debate, I lay that at the feet of the Democrats, specifically the Clintons. Any person with an ability to perceive reality knows that Hillary’s bemoaning of “the politics of personal destruction” back in the day was pure projection. American politics had always been rough and tumble, but the Clintons took the demonizing and destruction of political enemies to another level. Now Democrat politicians have no compunction whatsoever about labeling (libeling?) Republican foes as Nazis, terrorists or grandma-killers. Who wants to debate with these little Alinskys?

The Republicans don’t get a free pass on this, however. More of them need to be bold in condemning the ridiculous accusations coming out of the mouths of their Democrat counterparts.

Good luck with that.