General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" [View all]karynnj
(59,504 posts)You might want to watch the UN session he chaired yesterday to understand what he and other countries are trying to do.
What Obama is trying to do here is best explained by Obama's speech at West Point this May. This is very consistent with the type of things Kerry spoke of in 2004 -- rather than attacking and occupying countries - like George Bush did.
What seems clear from Kerry comments and speeches is that the US is pulling together the Sunni countries to try to first contain and then eliminate as a major threat ISIS. Now, some of the pieces are military, but others are more political/democratic.
Some of the things have included getting these countries to help dry up funds going to ISIS - first ending their funding, funding of people in their country and help in ending smuggling oil to pay for it. Another thing that he has done is to have these leaders ask their religious leaders to speak against joining ISIS. A top SA Iman has declared a fatwa against being in ISIS.
In addition, there are comments of deconflicting with Syria and Iran. Politically you can;t get the Sunni countries in if you say you are cooperating or coordinating with these two - and they are necessary. What is clear is that Kerry has been willing to take the hits from the RW and AIPAC by keeping the door open to Iran.
It may be that this will not work. It is a huge, very complicated mess. However if there is anyone I trust to do the best he can it is Kerry.