U.S. Special Operations Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel answers a question at the Aspen Security Forum on July 24, 2015. Aspen institute
The US war to destroy the Islamic State could take 50 years, US Army General Joseph Votel, the head of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM), told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, Department of Defense News reported.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — When the Islamic State is blocked by strong resistance in one theater of operations, it turns its attention to another, Votel explained.
“I don’t believe there’s any one strategy that we are going to apply that is immediately going to change this,” Votel said on Friday according to a report in the News. “It’s going to take a long-term approach.”
Votel compared the struggle against the Islamic State to the 50-year-long campaign that the nation of Columbia had been forced to wage against terrorism, according to the report.
Earlier in July 2015, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter praised the Special Operations Command as the “tip of the spear” of the faster, more agile armed forces the United States would need to carry out its security commitments in the coming decades.
Update: Special Ops General: ISIS Leader Preparing for Own Demise -- ABC News
WNU Editor: A part of me is wondering if he is too optimistic in his assessment .... there is also a real possibility that they (i.e. the Islamic State) may actually win this war, and be able to control for (God only knows how long) a good part of the Middle East and North Africa. Hmmmm .... I am willing to bet that no one has even brought up that possibility .... yet.
6 comments:
there are no militaries in the region capable or willing to uproot IS and subsequently occupy the entire area to prevent a resurgence, and face the inevitable Sunni insurgency that would entail.
And with moles planted all over the world .......
"I am willing to bet that no one has even brought up that possibility." I hope they have, at least in private.
Not only is the possibility you mention most likely but I've been saying for at least a year that this is not only possible but probable. In fact, those whose job is US national security should be planning as though this is what is going to happen and set American national security policy accordingly.
As to how long they maintain this control would depend upon at least a couple of factors. 1.) How good are they going to be at replacing their leadership once the current leaders retire or pass away. 2.)At what point, if any, does Russia intervene to thwart the spread of ISIS? If ISIS overplays their current situation, Russia could move to destroy them. As long as their primary targets are Sunni Arab states and America, Russia will probably let them be. My plan, if I had influence over US national security would be to assume ISIS is going to control at least what they control now and probably at least 25% to 50% more territory, at a minimum, than they do now and expect this situation to remain in place for at least the next 50 years or so, perhaps longer.
"I don’t believe there’s any one strategy that we are going to apply that is immediately going to change this,” Votel said on Friday according to a report in the News. “It’s going to take a long-term approach.”
This is military speak for "ask the politicians, we waiting for a plan".
Sadly James .... you are probably right.
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