The real problem with defeating ISIS

[Richard-H]

The reason ISIS has been able to survive, despite having made enemies with so many other countries, is that is so much animosity between those countries that they just can't get together to destroy ISIS:

Here's a list of the countries & political entities involved:
-Iraq
-Kurdish Iraqis
-Iran
-Iraqi Sunni tribes
-Saudi Arabia
-Jordan
-Qatar
-UAE
-Lebanon
-Syrian government
-The Free Syrian Army
-Turkey
-Russia
-The United States
-Western Europe
-ISIS

You'd think that all these countries combined could easily get together and destroy ISIS, but no,
there's way too much animosity and politics for them too act together.

The Iraqis are kind of allies with the U.S., but also allies with Iran. They are somewhat allies with the Kurds, but don't want the Kurds to gain too much power.

The Kurds are somewhat U.S. allies but the U.S. is committed to the Iraqi government and won't fully commit to the Kurds. The Kurds are allies with Iran, who is supplying them with weapons, but who also doesn't want the Kurds to gain too much power.

Iran hates ISIS, but will not directly intervene because of fear of the U.S. and because the Iraqi's don't want to risk an Iranian invasion.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE & Qatar are all in fear of ISIS, but they're also in fear of Iranian expansion. They have no love for the Kurds or the Shiite Iraqis. They are also used to the idea of the U.S. and Western Europe fighting their wars for them. They do not want to risk a disastrous military offensive that would render ruin their defensive capabilities.

The Syrian Government has for fighting ISIS and the Syrian free army. They are on the U.S. shit list. They are also the enemy of Turkey. They have good relations with Iran and with Russia.

The Syrian Free army which barely exists has some support the West but not enough to make a difference.

Turkey hates the Syrian government, has been a staunch ally of the U.S., but has also been supporting ISIS in their fight against the Syrian government. They do not want to take action against ISIS.

Russia is friendly with the Syrian government and Iran, but so far hasn't been attacked by ISIS. Unfortunately, the situation in the Ukraine has caused monumental animosity between Russia and the west resulting in the loss of what would otherwise be a key ally in the fight against ISIS.

The U.S. and Western Europe would as soon stay out of any Mideast conflicts, but ISIS has drawn them in. Our allies are the Shiite Iraqis, the Kurds, some Sunni tribes, the Saudis, the Jordanians, etc...our not so allies are Iran, the Syrian Government and Russia.

Anyway, what we have is a geo-political mess, and right in the middle is ISIS thriving because of it.

Somebody ought to make a diagram of this mess and try to figure out whatever it takes to get these countries to work together.

 

[eagle1462010]

Pretty much sums it up. The whole dang thing stinks to the high heavens, but it would go away if they'd just cooperate and get it over with.

Not gonna happen though. CRAZY

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

The real problem is Islam itself.

 

[aris2chat]

The reason ISIS has been able to survive, despite having made enemies with so many other countries, is that is so much animosity between those countries that they just can't get together to destroy ISIS:

Here's a list of the countries & political entities involved:
-Iraq
-Kurdish Iraqis
-Iran
-Iraqi Sunni tribes
-Saudi Arabia
-Jordan
-Qatar
-UAE
-Lebanon
-Syrian government
-The Free Syrian Army
-Turkey
-Russia
-The United States
-Western Europe
-ISIS

You'd think that all these countries combined could easily get together and destroy ISIS, but no,
there's way too much animosity and politics for them too act together.

The Iraqis are kind of allies with the U.S., but also allies with Iran. They are somewhat allies with the Kurds, but don't want the Kurds to gain too much power.

The Kurds are somewhat U.S. allies but the U.S. is committed to the Iraqi government and won't fully commit to the Kurds. The Kurds are allies with Iran, who is supplying them with weapons, but who also doesn't want the Kurds to gain too much power.

Iran hates ISIS, but will not directly intervene because of fear of the U.S. and because the Iraqi's don't want to risk an Iranian invasion.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE & Qatar are all in fear of ISIS, but they're also in fear of Iranian expansion. They have no love for the Kurds or the Shiite Iraqis. They are also used to the idea of the U.S. and Western Europe fighting their wars for them. They do not want to risk a disastrous military offensive that would render ruin their defensive capabilities.

The Syrian Government has for fighting ISIS and the Syrian free army. They are on the U.S. shit list. They are also the enemy of Turkey. They have good relations with Iran and with Russia.

The Syrian Free army which barely exists has some support the West but not enough to make a difference.

Turkey hates the Syrian government, has been a staunch ally of the U.S., but has also been supporting ISIS in their fight against the Syrian government. They do not want to take action against ISIS.

Russia is friendly with the Syrian government and Iran, but so far hasn't been attacked by ISIS. Unfortunately, the situation in the Ukraine has caused monumental animosity between Russia and the west resulting in the loss of what would otherwise be a key ally in the fight against ISIS.

The U.S. and Western Europe would as soon stay out of any Mideast conflicts, but ISIS has drawn them in. Our allies are the Shiite Iraqis, the Kurds, some Sunni tribes, the Saudis, the Jordanians, etc...our not so allies are Iran, the Syrian Government and Russia.

Anyway, what we have is a geo-political mess, and right in the middle is ISIS thriving because of it.

Somebody ought to make a diagram of this mess and try to figure out whatever it takes to get these countries to work together.

What the 60-plus members of the anti-Islamic State coalition are doing - The Washington Post