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Subject: Conditions Stalk Obama's Uncertain Coalition
SYSOP    9/16/2014 10:49:16 PM
 
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larryjcr    coalition?   9/17/2014 10:30:49 AM
Seems to me that over the last six years, the president has ignored, disrespected, or outright betrayed just about every nation he now wants to join his coalition. I can't see him going, hat in hand, to them admitting his mistakes and personally asking for their cooperation. I expect a lot of vague statements, but not very much real commitment. It will take months or years to rebuild the Iraqi army into an effective force. Saudi Arabia and the smaller gulf states have Iran to worry about. I don't expect them to be willing to commit ground forces. Jordan's army is very good, but not large and they have their own problems at home. The Kurds are good, but relations with Turkey and the Bagdad government in providing logistical support may limit what they can do. Iran certainly isn't going to send troops until they are effected more immediately than they are now. The Europeans have more than they can handle with Putin. I don't see how ISIL can be defeated without SOMEONE'S boot on the ground. As long as US troops are ruled out, I don't see where they will come from.
 
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avatar3    It gets worse   9/17/2014 12:52:17 PM
Obama has antagonized Israel, the country with the best intell service in the Middle East. Before that he castigated Egypt and insulted the fighters of the Free Syrian Army. Both Israel and Egypt reacted by making nice to Putin, Israel selling produce etc., Egypt looking for foreign aid. Is this a remarkable achievement, bringing two old enemies together! Our President is turning out to be the best thing that ever happened to a resurgent Russia.
 
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larryjcr    and   9/17/2014 7:42:22 PM
Also, by his unilateral pull out from Iraq, Obama handed it to Iran on a plate. The Saudis and the other gulf states have to see that as a betrayal of the support they gave us in Iraq.
 
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ker       9/19/2014 3:59:03 PM
How dose. A Green Beret know they are going back to the sand box? They get handed boots made in China. The whole notion of "No Boots on the Ground" is harmful. In fact it is an intentional fiction. The notion that enemys can be quietly mannaged with out patriotic emotion and stable defence spending is a pipe dream of the left. The centrail deciet of the Obama admin is that the only thing preventing real peace for America is Bushes "stupid" decisions. The sad result is that Obamas war plan is more Rumsfeld that Sec. Defence Rumsfeld was when Obama and party were attacking Rumsfeld for "making war on the cheap." Cult of air power, check. Vauge promises the local alies or Iraq army will handle cival afairs and securety and tons of other stuff, check. SOCOM can do every thing by it's self all the time. Triple check.
 
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CJH       9/19/2014 11:04:49 PM
Oh well.

I still believe that this seeming new found spirit of bellicosity is really about the November 2014 off year elections more than about national security.

If the Dems lose control of the Senate, Obama would face a Congress united against him.

Things could get nasty.

So Obama needs to stop being a hindrance to Democrat Senatorial hopes.

Of course if it is judged that "war" against the I.S. is not enough, we could always have a civil defense emergency and martial law before the elections.

 
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CJH       9/19/2014 11:12:48 PM
and...

Am I the only one who senses that Obama has been manipulated into this by the Islamic State?

 
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CJH       9/20/2014 2:13:32 PM
I mean that ISIS seemed to want the US as a military opponent, maybe for recruiting more Western country Muslims.
 
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CJH       9/20/2014 3:15:50 PM
and...

Am I the only one who senses that Obama has been manipulated into this by the Islamic State?

 
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