I sometimes think we went just a little too far with that "kinder, gentler, machine gun hand" thing. Sometimes it needs to be unkind, ungentle, brutal, and vicious. This is one of those times!
The rule is simple and timeless.
When we are attacked, the US must respond with frightening and terrible force.
Anyone who considers attacking the US, our people, or our interests should be so fearful of doing so that the idea becomes unthinkable.
This new-age concept of "proportional response" is ridiculous because it only produces a parlay, where each side slowly increases it's actions, and creates a sustainable conflict that is long lasting and politically comfortable.
Sec. of Def Hagel seems to understand this but has been put in a very uncomfortable position. The president stated that ISIS is not Al Qaeda, and that they are just the "JV team," in an effort to downplay the need for any responsiveness on his part.
This was a very very stupid thing to say just to expedite his journey back to the golf course. The very next day, Hagel came out and said that ISIS is like no threat we have ever encountered before, and he is correct. By saying this Hagel realizes that he has no choice but to contradict the president in order to do his job and protect this country.
This is why Hagel takes this position:
First, Al Qaeda was only about 25K - 30K strong at its most powerful, and though well funded, they were very disorganized, and regional. They did not get along with governments, or military groups, and employed a decentralized power structure. This did not prevent them from being highly effective, and carrying out successful terrorist plots world-wide.
ISIS is documented at 80K in strength, and made up of significant organized military might from the former Iraq Republican Guard, as well as Iranian, Lebanese, and Syrian forces. They have deep government funding as well as an organized methodology of seizing money and equipment in the regions they occupy. They are highly structured with stated goals and a command hierarchy based on standard military formulation with a functioning caliphate government. They are also not confined to a single region or ethnic group. Their membership is world-wide and embraces a diverse cultural makeup.
They have no need to cower in caves and send, cryptic notes and VHS tapes by curriers that take weeks to arrive. They are live on Twitter, Facebook and use technology as just another weapon. They are fearlessly posting images of US targets with very literal intent, like this tweet from August 9th.
@Sunna_rev
#AmessagefromISIStoUS
We are in your state
We are in your cities
We are in your streets
You are our goals anywhere If you had the stomach to watch the video of Mr. Foley being decapitated, you noticed that the hooded man was not speaking in arabic. He was speaking english with a british accent, and directly addressing President Obama. He has in fact been identified as a British citizen. ISIS also offered a degree of symbolism by clothing Foley in an orange outfit reminiscent of those worn in Guantanamo. The significance of which is speculated to indicate that the person carrying out the act may have been a former detainee, or that they want to focus attention, or send a message to others being held in Guantanamo.
We have this whole foreign policy thing so screwed up now that unfortunately something much bigger is going to happen to make us wake up and realize who we are. We bought a lemon on this one, but unfortunately we are going to have to drive it until the engine catches fire.
