DYCHE | How would Rand Paul destroy ISIS?
By John David Dyche WDRB Contributor
Kentucky's junior U.S. Senator, Rand Paul, has said that if he was president he would "call a joint session of Congress, lay out the reasoning of why ISIS is a threat to our national security, and seek congressional authorization to destroy ISIS militarily." Exactly how he would accomplish ISIS's destruction remains unclear.
President Obama proposes to do it with U. S. and allied airstrikes and ground action by others, including so-called "moderate" Syrian rebels whom America would arm and train. Paul calls arming Syrian rebels "a terrible idea" and was among 12 Senate Republicans who voted against Obama's recent request for funding to do it.
Like Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Paul blames past American policy mistakes for the rise of ISIS. But now, Paul says, "Toppling [pro-Iranian Syrian strongman] Assad will lead to a new chaos and greater danger from the jihadists."
"We must now defend ourselves from these barbarous jihadists, but let's not compound the problem by arming feckless rebels in Syria who seem to be merely a pit stop for the arms that are inevitably scarfed up by ISIS," Paul said on the Senate floor. "Sending arms to so-called moderate Islamic rebels in Syria is a fool's errand and will only make ISIS stronger."
But expert opinion is virtually unanimous that destroying ISIS will require some military action on the ground in Syria. Who does Paul propose carry that out? U.S. troops? The Assad regime? Kurds? Or does he alone believe just American air strikes can do the job?
As national pundits often say, having willed the end of ISIS's military destruction, Paul must now will the means to achieve it.
Just a month ago, Paul's office said President Obama should answer the following questions: What is the plan for success? What is victory? What are the costs? What will it look like when we stop? Can we do it without reengaging ourselves in Iraq militarily for years?
Will Paul now answer these questions himself since he has declared for destroying ISIS militarily? He has not done so yet. Until he gets specific about his plan he will face legitimate questions and harsh attacks.
So who will fight ISIS on the ground as part of a war Paul said he accepts as "necessary?" Asked for comment, Paul's office said it would be best to talk with the Senator directly. This columnist eagerly awaits that opportunity.
Continued here:
DYCHE | How would Rand Paul destroy ISIS?