"U.S. Hasn’t Even Started Training Rebel Army to Fight ISIS" Topic

"In conjunction with air strikes, the American mission to train and equip the Syrian moderate opposition is a central part of the Obama administration's strategy to counter ISIS. Yet this strategy and its execution are deeply flawed, say Congressional lawmakers focused on national security issues—which raises questions about whether the planned training of some 5,000 fighters will ever happen.

Congress authorized the train-and-equip mission in mid-September, but two months later, recruitment has not even begun. Instead, the time has been spent setting up a system to vet potential recruits. According to Pentagon and Congressional sources, training of opposition fighters won't begin until March or April at the earliest, and it will take a total of eight or nine months to train an initial small group of fighters.

"So far it's been slow, and it will continue to be slow, and it certainly won't be sufficient to stop the Islamic State," Senator-Elect Tom Cotton told The Daily Beast. "It's probably necessary for success in the long term, but it's far, far, far from sufficient." …"

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Amicalement
Armand

Given how some of our trainees have acted in Afghanistan, and Iraq, I can see why they'd be cautious.

Seems to me this strategy is doomed to failure, since it is impossible to depend upon others to do your fighting for you, in most cases.

Along the same lines as Mako, why would we want to train potential ISIS recruits? I would even venture that some trainees are ISIS members looking for training and equipment.

I hate to say it … but I don't have too much faith in this plan. But it's better than nothing. However, for all the questionable things about it … I still prefer massive, huge, BIG daily Airstikes, TLAMs, drones etc. …

Classic example of what we've been trying in the MidEast for the past decade not working, so we're piling on more of the same.

In some ways yes, however, keeping BOTG to a very small number, until we figure a time and way to leave the locals to their own devices … on their own … I cam think of no near term solution. The "fix" must come from within. And may we have to turn a blind eye to our humanity somewhat, let groups like ISIS slaughter innocents, commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, etc. ? Someone much smarter than I is going to have to come up with something. Or let the horror continue … until the locals come to their "senses", become capable of defending themselves and for many to move into at least the 20th Century. We keep teaching them how to fish, but yet they still starve or prefer to let the infidels feed them … No easy answers, if there are any answers at all, at this time … There are only bad options, some very bad options and even worse options, it appears …

Sounds like we're all on the same page here. Except I like my Dictators in the ME to at least wear suits.