OPINION_ Defeating ISIS requires experience 'on the ground'

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Defeating ISIS requires experience 'on the ground'

Letter to the Editor
Saturday, July 11, 2015, 9:00 p.m.
Updated 6 hours ago

According to The Associated Press story “Senators quiz military chiefs, criticize U.S. fight against Islamic State” , $500 million has been approved for training the Free Syrian Army to combat ISIS, with a goal of only 5,400 trainees in each of the next three years. Even if that effort were on course, it is probably too little, too late.

Yet in response to Sen. McCain's comment that the strategy seems delusional, Defense Secretary Carter says the strategy is fine. It seems that only “execution” must be improved, “especially on the ground.”

Well, where else does the strategy matter? Moving memos around the White House faster? Shortening committee meetings at the Pentagon?

Parris Island trains Marines on the ground! Maybe Carter expects to train soldiers in “the cloud” — online!

The fight against ISIS will be won only on the ground. And with enlistees walking away and only 60 active trainees, it seems unlikely to be won at all.

The U.S. military has dozens, perhaps hundreds, of officers who worked successfully with local and tribal leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan. They identified and respected natural leaders and gained their trust.

The Marines in Al Anbar Province proved that this method could succeed. Perhaps we should deploy those officers to the refugee camps full of people who have already fled from ISIS.

They could use the methods that brought our only successes in the ground wars of recent years. I'm willing to bet that they can find, train and deploy more that 16,600 fighters in less than three years, and for less than $500 million.

Of course, that would require leadership from people who understand and respect the frontline soldiers and officers of the American military and are committed to actually winning this fight — not just passing the buck to the next administration or perhaps the next generation.

People like that seem to be in short supply in this administration.

Kathleen Smith
Canonsburg

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