Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi calls for regional response to ISIS
Channel News Asia reports that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for the creation of a regional response to the threat of the Islamic State Caliphate. Of course, he wants US support;
“It is very important for the United States to understand that our need for the weapons and for the equipment is dire, especially at the time when the Egyptians feel they are fighting terrorism and they would like to feel the United States is standing by them in that fight against terrorism,” said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Sisi after he arrives in Egypt on Thursday for the Egypt Economic Development Conference, the State Department said on Monday.
Kerry will also meet with other senior Egyptian leaders to discuss “a range of bilateral and global issues,” including efforts against Islamic State militants, Libya and Syria’s crisis, according to the department.
This comes just weeks after the Egyptians started an air campaign against ISIS elements on it’s borders with Libya.
I’m convinced that ISIS won’t be defeated without a full-on effort by the Arabs and North Africans simply because the US politicians won’t allow American forces to wage the unrestricted warfare that needs to be fought against the Caliphate in order to defeat ISIS. The Arabs and the North Africans understand the warfare that will lead to the complete defeat of the extremists. The swift and bloody response of the Jordanians a few weeks back, in response to the murder of their pilot is a perfect example.
The Egyptians are a reliable ally in this war, as are the Jordanians. We should give them the means to fight and let them figure out how to best employ that equipment.
Category: Terror War
He was on Bret Baier’s show last night on this. Impressive. Bret asked him about Obama and his look said it all…even went to English for a second. He went to Leavenworth Command and Staff.
Tonight on Bret’s he said he was invited to go to Russia and went. But he had not been invited by Dear Leader, but he was invited by Congress.
Agree. Completely.
Remember the news tidbit that the US wouldn’t sell drones to Jordan because the Israelis would be upset?
Suppose the US did decided to talk to Egypt et al about a regional force. Would the Israelis object? Would they consider joining? That might go a ways to reducing stress in the region. Would it be strange to see Israelis and Arabs on the same side?
I imagine that the Arab states would politely decline, “we cannot be seen to work with Israelis killing Muslims, even those Muslims”.
It be about as weird as a European Army containing French, German, Polish, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, and Spanish units. But not Swiss or British.
I agree. Israel’s involvement would be counterproductive. I cannot imagine a circumstance where the involvement of an Israeli force would not serve as a recruitment tool for ISIS. It would also undermine domestic public support in Arab countries for the fight against ISIS
Maybe someone should ask Israel if it would care to be involved before pronouncing what the effect would be if it was to join the club. The IDF will act if the security of Israel is at issue. If Muslims want to blow the shit out of one another, that’s not a bad thing. And if there are solid Muslim states that want to join forces to combat ISIS, so much the better.
2/17 AC, I think it would be great if Israel could be part of defeating ISIS.
The Egyptians and the Israelis agree and cooperate on the Rafah crossing and on lots of other stuff. The Israelis and the Jordanians have a good working relationship — most of the time. There seems to be some sort of detente with Saudi Arabia.
I don’t know how Israel could contribute to the battle with ISIS – I’m not that smart – but the future of the Middle East is either:
(a) it stays the same, not good or
(b) it gets better and something like this would be a good start or
(c) it gets worse. If Iran gets the bomb they already have missiles to deliver a nuke on Tel Aviv. So it can get a lot worse.
Personally, I vote for better. For me that means a non-nuclear Iran, Iraq with a sectarian government, a new country called Kurdistan, and no ISIS at all. Please pardon me while I go outside and observe the porcine flyover. Ya can’t blame a guy for hoping.
“For me that means a non-nuclear Iran, Iraq with a sectarian government, a new country called Kurdistan, and no ISIS at all.”
Yeah, Richard, I’m with you on that. I like to dream, too. My comment was really meant L(eftist) Taylor. He is an authority on everything, don’t you know. And if you don’t believe me, just ask him.
What the hell does “asking” Israel have anything to do with it?
Nobody is saying Israel can’t get involved.
I am saying that is would be counterproductive. Except intelligence sharing and use of Airfields/airspace.
Israeli ground forces entering any Arab country to fight ISIS would be a disaster.
And the the outcome Richard described could be achieved without Israeli ground forces.
Although the current sentiment in the region and apparently among several prominent US policy advisors is against a independent Kurdistan.
Which I think is idiotic. I have no idea why so many want to repeat the errors of the past and try to reform Iraq as it was prior to ISIS.
Honestly, I think you are just looking for an excuse to argue with me. Nothing I said in the statement you are taking issue with is controversial:
“I agree. Israel’s involvement would be counterproductive. I cannot imagine a circumstance where the involvement of an Israeli force would not serve as a recruitment tool for ISIS. It would also undermine domestic public support in Arab countries for the fight against ISIS”
Israeli involvement would be counter-productive, unfortunately. Don’t forget the great diplomatic pains we undertook to keep Israel out of Desert Storm for fear of the Arab Coalition members bolting. It was very important to have Arab forces liberate an Arab country (Kuwait) from an Arab agressor (Iraq).
The strategy behind Saddam’s use of SCUDs against Israel during Desert Storm (they were not even a beligerent) was to provoke an armed response by Israel, and thus turn the war into a “US and Israel vs. Arab conflict” and cause our Arab coalition partners to leave.
Just as for-instance… instead of deciding n Israeli presence would be such a mistake – shouldn’t that be a question best left to the regional strike force? Israel has the best CAS in the region, I believe – there are quite a few missions they could run in support which would not necessarily involve full integration with the strike force on a ground level. Better to ask Israel and Egypt if they can see a role Israel could play. You don’t win allies by exclusion. If all concerned say no, that’s another issue.
‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’
Which reminds me: where are the Russians and the Chinese in the middle of all this? They have a stake in this terrorism business, too.
China buys a lot of oil from Iran. China also has a pipeline straight from Kazakhstan with a maximum capacity of 20 million tons per year. In 2014, China imported 27.5 million tons of oil and condensate from Iran and increase of 28% over 2013.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/01/23/china-oil-iran-idINL4N0V126B20150123
Russia is supplied Iran with a very large nuclear reactor connected to their national power grid with an extension cord. One can only wonder what the rest of the energy is used for.
That plant is in Bushehr (Persian Gulf) and has a rated capacity of 1 gigawatt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushehr_Nuclear_Power_Plant
On November 12, 2014, Russia agreed to build 6 new nuclear reactors for Iran.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30015464
Russia doesn’t need Iranian oil, she produces about 1.5 million barrels per day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_production
Check that link for the Iranian oil production, it is about 3.5 million barrels per day. Of that they export about 1.5 million barrels a day. When you have oil to sell, cash is not much of a problem.
By the way, I lied about the extension cord.
It is really two extension cords.
Richard, the Russian bbl/day production level of oil is 10.7+ million bbl/day, latest figures from November 2014.
http://ycharts.com/indicators/russia_crude_oil_production
There is a serious problem in Siberia with gigantic methane pockets exploding, which may affect Russia’s gas mining, but the effect that may have on oil production is as yet unknown. So far, no issues.
I disagree.
The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy…
IMO, we need to be very careful here. I suspect any tools of war we give them will be used against us in the future…
Agreed…however, it will be nice to see Egyptian/Syrian/Jordanian/Qatari/you name the country boys doing the jobs that US/British/Canadian/Norwegian/you name the country boys have been doing…
I agree this is an Arab problem of Muslim origin. They are the ones to best deal with ISIS for several reasons. They know them and their culture. They are not hamstrung by our ROE, thus they will kill them without mercy. They are coming to or at a point of being fed up with ISIS and that is a great thing. So, yes help them with arms. Just be aware, history tells us if we are not careful who we give arms to, they often are the ones we face later. Additionally, if this should succeed completely, and ISIS is destroyed, these arms will still be in the hands of many not quite ISIS radical but none the less radical Muslims. To be used for their own future coups, civil wars, or threats against us, should we say “up” and they expected a “down” on any issue. Meaning more potential Mid East unrest to deal with or actually, not be dealt with by this Administration. To bad we can’t electronically “wear date” a weapon or system and turn it off at any time. But I am dreaming.
Addendum. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was an impressive speaker and seems committed to what he said. It saddens me greatly when I see and listen to other world leaders and think of ours. Such as Hussein of Jordan or the Egyptian President and then do a mental review of Obama on his blue bicycle and getting his news on government affairs from print media. Now, I am not naive and I know that BS story is like all of his duck and cover, take no responsibility, lies. But I am one who if surveyed about whether I think Obama loves America would have to say…No. If he does at all, it is only for what he has taken and will take from this country for himself.
It’s best done if this is left to Egypt to form alliances to fight the caliphate. The ISIS structure is beginning to crumble, however slowly, from within. A united front against them, with support from the US and Europe, will make it their success.
Good luck with that.
Our Commander in Chief has chosen his allies and they are called the Muslim Brotherhood.
Just no. Nonsense.
Yeah, FC0311, we know where his allegiance isn’t, that’s for certain, the rat bastard.
About damn time the Arabs picked up the momentum and started taking care of their own house…
Don’t hold your breath. I like the Egyptian president. But the soldiers and police forces in this part of the world have never shown themselves to be either skilled or brave. Just my opinion.
Most from the Islamic world just don’t seem willing to stand up to a determined insurgency… whether in Iraq, AFG, etc. They cut and run when things get rough.
One exception is Turkey. I have faith in them to be good fighters. Would love to see them join in against ISIS, but their hatred of the Kurds is such that they are just watching from the sidelines (across the border) hoping ISIS wipes out the Kurds.
Then you’re not familiar with Jordan, nor with Egypt.
Jordan has long had a professional, capable army. Egypt has done well when properly trained and they stick to that training. Their problems in the 1973 war stemmed from their departure from their original stratgegy. They hadn’t trained for anything else, so when they tried to free-lance things against the IDF it went sideways.
Maybe they should hit up the oil rich states in the region to purchase equipment – from us of course.
If we do it right, ISIS is gone and we turn a profit! That’s the American way!
Dear President Obama:
Why are you talking about giving arms to “moderate armies” of unknown strength and loyalty in Syria, but not giving needed arms and supplies to the well trained, disciplined, known army of Egypt with a leader willing to put a bullseye on his back by walking into Al Azar and calling for reform?
I’m sure Bibi won’t mind if you want to help these guys out a bit under the circumstances (not that you care).
Just curious.
Susan
P.S. You may want to ask Pres. Al-Sisi and/or King Abdullah of Jordan where you can purchase a set of balls. Bibi probably knows as well, but I know you would never ask him.
He’s convinced the world ISIS isn’t Muslim….. all he has to do now is use those same mad skills to convince the region that the Israelis aren’t Jewish.
Need more leaders from the Middle East, such as Jordan’s president, to bring the fight to these barbarians. That guy is the epitome of leading by example.