Has anyone heard of a Mideast country outside Iraq and Serbia offering troops to fight ISIS?

Sal wrote:And Qatar. 

Th Dude wrote:At the very least jordan, egypt, and turkey (I'd also add israel if I were da man) should be the boots on the ground.

This is in their interest... I don't buy that we have an immediate compelling interest at all.

2seaoat wrote: The best way to kick their asz is to take the five trillion thrown down the rabbit hole and build roads, factories, bridges, airports, rail, and schools and have an economic boom......but no.....we do the dirty work for corrupt oil kingdoms who exploit their citizens, foreign workers, and the American people.  This is not that difficult.   Now is the time for a minimalist response.

2seaoat wrote:I do not care if a coalition is formed.  This is pure boogeyman stuff.  Israel is loving this.  Iran, Iraq, and Syria are in chaos and fighting between themselves, and if fifteen years ago someone said this chaos could be achieved without us doing a thing.......they would have been giving high fives.

Targeted strikes.....no problem.   Other nations taking the lead......no problem.   However, buying into this boogeyman stuff is just plain stupid.   We have been attacked by terrorist from all different nationalities, and we will be attacked by terrorists in the future.   We either live as free brave men, or quiver in the corner being shills for the MIC and the oligarchy which profits in each of these adventures.  Take a couple heads off and people begin trembling.......while historically hundreds of Americans have died by terrorists acts, and we did not lash out randomly or quiver in the corner......we made ourselves more secure and more vigilant.   The best way to kick their asz is to take the five trillion thrown down the rabbit hole and build roads, factories, bridges, airports, rail, and schools and have an economic boom......but no.....we do the dirty work for corrupt oil kingdoms who exploit their citizens, foreign workers, and the American people.  This is not that difficult.   Now is the time for a minimalist response.

Sal wrote:

2seaoat wrote: The best way to kick their asz is to take the five trillion thrown down the rabbit hole and build roads, factories, bridges, airports, rail, and schools and have an economic boom......but no.....we do the dirty work for corrupt oil kingdoms who exploit their citizens, foreign workers, and the American people.  This is not that difficult.   Now is the time for a minimalist response.

I was just making that very point to my wife in conversation this afternoon. 


Well put. 


Actually, minimalist is too much. 

2seaoat wrote:If y'all are talking 5 trillion in tax dollars you can both fuck off. There's plenty of money if spent wisely.

The govt should be able to operate easily on every level combined at or under 10% of gdp.


You would not know what has increased American productivity if it hit you in the face. It is all about keeping America competitive. Our country lags in our broadband networks......in particular to rural America. Our transportation systems and ports need to be geared for more efficient delivery of our exports where we are competitive in the world market. Simply spending tax money to make work is stupid. Spending a few dollars of tax money to allow multipliers to expand our GDP is solid economic wisdom. Building all these twenty five ton armored vehicles which get mothballed in local police departments is like pouring the wealth of this country down the drain. However a six lane three mile bridge with a direct connection to 110 going over an expanded port which can handle containerized storage would be a huge economic win as people move more efficiently and our products can be marketed in South and Central America.

No it does take tax dollars to create infrastructure, but we must be wise in those expenditures. You simply lack economic training and believe in a feudal paradigm which has never held up and is quite simply sophomoric. We can and must make good decisions for Americans. This country and its citizens must come before capital and its fungible and unpatriotic selfish ways.