Now there is a question for the ages.
I know that ISIS is not grabbing many headlines these days….but I am still watching the situation so others do not have to…..
Some will say that it is a pipe dream……but I think there is a way and it is probably staring us in the face…..
Of course there is NO one with half a brain that does not want to see the end of ISIS and their murderous ways…so far the best and brightest have a plan to do so….arm moderate rebels, airstrikes and ……well that is about it for now.
The Syrian Army is doing well against ISIS, they have re-taken Palmyra and seem to have the thugs on the run….plus there is a peace process in the making and it seems to also be making some headway but there is a long way to go to end this thing.
I have seen 7 things that could end this thing once and for all……
- Full cooperation between the two coalitions fighting ISIS — i.e. the coalition spearheaded by Iran, Syria, Iraq and Russia and the one by the United States and its regional and international allies. This will assure cooperation among the key regional and international powers in the ISIS fight and is the only effective way to destroy the group.
- In Syria, the ground offensive against ISIS led by the Syrian army and Kurdish forces should immediately be supported internationally and be intricately connected to Iraqi military and paramilitary efforts against ISIS. For that to happen, the Saudis, Qataris and Turks must command their proxy rebel forces to adhere to a complete ceasefire and allow them to cooperate with government and Kurdish forces fighting ISIS if possible.
- In line with that, the Syrian government, opposition, as well as regional and international powers, should move beyond the current “cessation of hostilities” towards a formal and durable ceasefire. Parallel to this, prisoners should be released by both sides and humanitarian assistance should be administered to all areas.
- International peacekeeping forces, numbering in the thousands, should be sent to guarantee the ceasefire and reopen the contested cities and towns to resettle as many displaced refugees as possible. Investing in the creation of such a force will be far cheaper to do than the billions spent to destroy the country and the cost of settling refugees outside of the country. In light of the proxy nature of the conflict, no Arab or Iranian forces should be a part of this peacekeeping force. A huge reservoir of forces exists in Asian, Latin American, European and African countries that could be used in this regard.
- “We will not talk to anyone who talks about the position of the presidency. Bashar [al-Assad] is a red line,” the Syrian foreign minister, Walid Muallem has said. However, the fate of Assad and the Syrian presidency should be left to the people of Syria through an election supervised by United Nations. In parallel, the opposition forces must precisely define who would negotiate for a national unity transitional government that would have full executive powers. This process will lead to a new constitution and ultimately to an internationally sponsored election. Terrorist and radical religious groups should be excluded.
- There is a major need for a strong post-war rebuilding plan; a type of mini-Marshall plan that would foster stability during the fragile recovery period with economic support, enabling the re-inhabiting of destroyed cities and towns and preventing a chaotic and prolonged recovery.
-
The refugee centers in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon should be gradually dismantled to prevent them from becoming a long-term security threat to the region, as refugee camps unfortunately tend to become. Every effort should be made to return refugees to their towns and assist them in reconstruction and participation in the political process.
-
For all these elements to succeed, there must be unity among the international community, specifically the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. They need to control their regional allies and direct them towards these goals. Moreover, the Security Council should implement plans to stifle the deadly sectarianism spreading in West Asia
Like I said….a long way to go….but what is the old saying…….”nothing ventured nothing gained”……..
I say why not try this? What could we possibly lose? There has been enough death and destruction…..
n the day after ISIL, that is the day when the organization is completely defeated militarily, a simple question may emerge in the minds: Have we all been hyping this “thing”, giving it more than what it is worth, hence contributing to an elusive sense of relief which we will certainly see spreading everywhere when this group of killers is militarily defeated?
Re: “I know that ISIS is not grabbing many headlines these days….but I am still watching the situation so others do not have to…..”
Good to know you are on the job for us. Thank you.
Sure thing…..they will be in the headlines again I am sure….
Maybe we are being conditioned to accept their antics as the new normal and therefore more coverage would be of no use whatever to whoever is making a profit from all this stuff.
You can bet if they raise their ugly mugs the “experts” will be telling all kinds of crap…none of which is helpful.
F.Y.I.
Saudi Efforts To ‘Modernize’ its Economy Away From Oil Are Just PR Tactics.. …http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/saudi-efforts-to-modernise-their-economy-away-from-oil-are-just-pr-tactics-and-the-west-is-lapping-a7004691.html
Robert Fisk wrote an excellent book on the middle east.. a tome tis true…
These are the real culprits….and every one who supports them.
I will not be around too much 2day as I have a red hot poker down my left sitting bone…bloody disc….hobble hobble…oh the delights of a protruding disc and the subsequent nerve flashes…
Fancy a pilgrimage to Mecca?
hahaha…
‘Based on the total of the individual national reports at least 2,431 people died. The official death toll from the government of Saudi Arabia remains unchanged since two days after the event, with 769 reported killed and 934 others injured’ That was last year….
Way to go!
For a Cosmic Black Stone…??????????
A good morning to you chuq….
The world is getting madder each day……
Sorry to hear about the pain…I can sympathize….take the day to relax and recovery….we are always here…LOL