NATO Nations vow to join in fight against ISIS
From the Christian Science Monitor comes the news that 26 nations pledged to join the fight against ISIS during a summit in Paris, if that’s not ironic;
“It shows a political will to tackle [the extremists] collectively,” says Yves Boyer, associate director of the French think tank Foundation for Strategic Research, which he says is crucial for legitimacy. “There is some feeling that the US should not be the full leader of what is going on, because of the failures of the US in this part of the world since 2001.”
Yeah, now I’m inspired – the French have taken to criticizing our military adventures.
The New York Times reports that some Arab Nations have signed on, too, but don’t ask Kerry which ones;
Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking from Paris, declined to say which states had offered to contribute air power, an announcement that White House officials said could await his return to testify in Congress early this week. State Department officials, who asked not to be identified under the agency’s protocol for briefing reporters, said Arab nations could participate in an air campaign against ISIS in other ways without dropping bombs, such as by flying arms to Iraqi or Kurdish forces, conducting reconnaissance flights or providing logistical support and refueling.
I guess the whole point of this little diplomatic exercise is to let other countries participate, but not really do anything to kill thugs in large numbers. I guess the “do anything” mentality is seeping into the diplomatic corps and the defense organizations.
We’ve been selling fighters and armored vehicles to these Arab nations for decades, why can’t they use them? Ever? We’ve had huge exercises with their troops – I assume they train their officers and soldiers to fight in wars – so why aren’t they making that sort of commitment. When Kuwait was devastated by Saddam Hussein, we protected the Arab Nations from succumbing to the same fate and then rescued Kuwait from being the “19th Province” of Iraq. So what do we get in return? Air taxis.
I’m sure they’ll all get pretty medals and pats on the back from John Kerry, while once again, the US shoulders the majority of the fight and suffers more criticism from the Euro-wienies when it all fails because no one is willing to make a commitment to the war that they’ll need to destroy ISIS.
Category: John Kerry, Terror War
Yeah, that “NATO-led” force called ISAF is working out just oh-so-well in Afghanistan, isn’t it?
Sheesh.
Were there members of ISIS in Paris to greet Lurch?
I have zero confidence in our national Leadership to lead themselves to a bathroom, never mind lead a coalition of unwilling nations in a fight against a very well funded and equipped group like ISIS. Hell, I would not give them much of a chance against the Cub Scouts.
So our NATO allies are willing to join the fight and the French are criticizing the US. What’s new? With the exception of the Brits, any past NATO response has been underwhelming. I doubt it will be any different with this adventure.
Do you reckon that when things get rough, France will quit NATO again? Kinda hard to take anything they say in reference to NATO serious.
Ole Yves Boyer can eat a bag of dicks as for as I’m concerned. Like I give a shit what some bullshit French think tank has to say about our success or lack of success in that part of the world. The Euro trash can talk all they want, but I’ve yet to see them take any action. Just more typical Euro pussy hand wringing.
Does the french army still wear brown pants?
The same NATO that didn’t have the munitions to participate in Libya and had to use ours. The same NATO that doesn’t have the logistical capabilities to transport their own gear and troops so they rely on the United States military to do so…
NATO is a crock of shit. Turkey especially as it becomes more Islamist every day and funds Islamists.
Turkey is scared shitless that once finished with ISIS the kurds will push hard against the turks. No love lost between turks and kurds.
Is it just me who finds it more than a bit ironic that the French want to talk about failures in Africa and the middle east?
Well at least France contributed to one drinking holiday – Cinco de Mayo.
The makes them relevant in the world, right?
With friends like these…
… we could really do with a LOT fewer friends.
For the record: Canada officially sent to Iraq what started out as “a few dozen….” and is now being reported as “about 100 Military Advisers..” BUT “no boots on the ground, and this is NOT a combat mission….” (As always, I’m hoping the terrorist murderers got THAT memo.)
Sound familiar? Oh, and Prime Minister Harper is on the record as saying “they’ll be there for 30 days…..with review at that time…”
Sure this is going to end well…
Oh sure, so long as it’s zoomies drooping boomies NATO will stand four square with us. Once the air war is done and actual ground operations are required, we’ll see how steadfast they are.