And Iraq too. Let's merge them into one country, Syraq.
A silly fantasy, of course. Just food for thought. The only way to make such an idea work is to have China, Russia, the EU and the US on the same page. The we could run it like Berlin after WWII, with each entity in control of its own sector. Or like Japan, except each entity would have control for ten year periods.
I would guess this project would take about two centuries. The goal is to create a stable, economically successful state in the midst of the cesspool that is the Middle East. A haven for all those people in the region who are crushed under religious fanaticism and ruthless dictatorship. To consolidate the talents of the region and accelerated modernization.
Why? Because the Middle East is too much damn trouble. Ninth Century mentalities are tolerable only so long as they stay within their borders and don't bother anyone. The only sure-fire cure for terrorism is a thriving middle-class. Something which provides disaffected youth with an alternative to religious fanaticism. We cannot trust any of the governments of the Middle East to achieve this for their young people. These countries are in desperate need of training wheels.
Here's what we do well. We can topple a dictator. We can help rebuild regions with a tradition of democracy.
Here's what we cannot seem to do. We cannot institute a democratic government in regions without previous experience in democracy.
We keep trying, but so far, no success on day two after the overthrow of dictators.
How about Japan and Germany after WWII? We took over these countries and managed them, because in the collective view of the world they were incapable of managing themselves. Now they're democracies. What was true for Germany and Japan is a thousand times truer for the countries of the Middle East. They cannot manage themselves, and their ineptitude is simple to destabilizing to be allowed to continue. Both Germany and Japan were much more advanced, industrial nations, though. That's why it would take so much longer in the ME. The alternative is to leave them to their own devices, which isn't working out too well right now.
I agree with you, in theory, however, how would we establish and maintain law and order? Marshal law? That would work for a while, until people started to get used to it, then eventually, revolt, maybe revolution (see Communist China as an example). The answer is to find a way to win the hearts and minds of the youth. That is the ONLY path to a stable and peaceful ME. OMHO.
Well no doubt, educating the masses on how to live civilized is always a timely challenge but ultimate goal indeed. The key is the youth suffering under these oppressors, the affect is pure suffering. But, these militants have to be dealt a heavy hand...
If by that you mean meet force with force, then yes you are correct. The only way to defeat ISIS, and other militant fundimentalists, is through total destruction. Destruction of the people, not the region. The region is NOT the problem, it is a group (or more accuratly, a group of groups), that is the problem. This calls, IMO, for counter-insurgentcy forces (AKA Guerilla warfare). Small, highly trained, well equiped units of fighters that do not know the definition of failure, and will kill the enemy by ANY means nessicary. Fighters that can, and will strike from anywhere, at any time, and are trained to infiltrate enemy units.