Hey !, he did it, dropping the big mother.

[esmith]

From which unholy, putrified crypt of decadence could anyone find an upside to the use of that bomb?

The purpose of the weapon was not to just kill those within the blast area but to seal off the tunnels and caves being used by ISIS and any other terrorist groups. The area was next to impossible to hit with conventional weapons due to the terrain. It was basically a safe haven for ISIS and other terrorist groups. So basically it saved the lives of the Afghan and US support troops. In addition it sends a clear message to those that want to harm us and our "friends", that we will take aggressive action to do so.

In addition it appears that you do not have the same aversion to those that would do harm to local villagers that you do to those that are trying to stop those groups.

 

[Twilight Hue]

And outsiders tend to be the absolute worst at resolving the internal affairs of others, especially when the insiders are not in unanimous decision that the outsiders should be helping.
Let them put their "big boy pants" on, run their own nation, enjoy their own sovereignty, and solve their problems without outsiders telling them how to do it while dropping bombs on them.

There's little sense of soverienty within "tribal" units. If we "outsiders" didn't do anything, these psychopaths hence isis will, not if, but will continue their insane campaign of subjugation through various horrendous methods of torture and murder without prejudice.

Isis is not a recognised sovereign entity nor should it ever be.

It's more akin with a violent brutal cartel that thinks it's too big to stop, and are continually emboldened whenever people do nothing to stop this type of insanity.

I'm sorry. I can't defend Isis like it's some poor country of misunderstood people who just want to live out their lives. There's too much out there now to show that it's not the case.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think that's an idealist conception which has little basis in reality.

Terrorism is driven by material conditions and the conditions which fostered terrorism emerged out of imperialism.

If the US continues things will go on forever.

No it won't. Things will change over time and new lines will be drawn that have clear consequences if they are crossed.

Warfare in general continues anyways, I guess you can say that's perpetual, but factions can be reigned in enough that it's controllable over the course of time to achieve a degree of stability.

It's funny on how the notion of perceived imperialism produces terrorism when its obvious the middle east has been knocking the **** out of each other for as long as I can remember. I think the conquerors, hence "imperialists" are not members of the free world in this case.

 

[esmith]

If America continues it's insane military campaign ISIS membership will do nothing but go up.

Reducing the people fighting for ISIS as psychopaths isn't accurate. Same old military propaganda. Same techniques, new colours.

Recruits migrate to the groups that they think are "winning"; if you remove the "winning" perception, you reduce the numbers that want to join a now "losing" group.

 

[Vinayaka]

Sadly, if the real BIG one gets dropped, it will affect us all. Nuclear fallout goes world wide, and I don't trust some of these trigger happy people.

 

[LuisDantas]

The purpose of the weapon was not to just kill those within the blast area but to seal off the tunnels and caves being used by ISIS and any other terrorist groups. The area was next to impossible to hit with conventional weapons due to the terrain. It was basically a safe haven for ISIS and other terrorist groups. So basically it saved the lives of the Afghan and US support troops. In addition it sends a clear message to those that want to harm us and our "friends", that we will take aggressive action to do so.

That is one reading of it. As it happens, an extremely biased and short-sighted one.

In addition it appears that you do not have the same aversion to those that would do harm to local villagers that you do to those that are trying to stop those groups.

If you think so, then you have no idea of what I defend. Or, in fact, of who I am.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If America continues it's insane military campaign ISIS membership will do nothing but go up.

Reducing the people fighting for ISIS as psychopaths isn't accurate. Same old military propaganda. Same techniques, new colours.

Ok. Lets take a different approach. Just pure conjecture.

What kind of people do you think Isis will become if givin sovereign status and their own viable land to rule as they see fit?

 

[Father Heathen]

Republican will not change theirf mind on what the mindless LW media says, with their fake news.

But you did change your mind. Trump originally said that interfering in Syria would be a bad idea, and tried to characterize Hillary as a "warmonger", claiming that she would do what Trump is doing now, presenting it as a reason to elect him over her. So for conservatives, it's not about what is done, but who is the one doing it? Just another example of yokels placing blind partisanship loyalty before principles.

 

[Notanumber]

If a M.O.A.B. can do as well or better than troops on the ground, it has to be the way to go.

 

[metis]

Wait, wasn't one of the reasons for which Trump's supporters chose him over Hillary was because they believed that she was going to do this very thing?

Definitely worth repeating, and I hope that a few people here are enjoying their dining on crow.

 

[BSM1]

If America continues it's insane military campaign ISIS membership will do nothing but go up.

Reducing the people fighting for ISIS as psychopaths isn't accurate. Same old military propaganda. Same techniques, new colours.

That's ok. We have plenty of munitions.

Sadly, if the real BIG one gets dropped, it will affect us all. Nuclear fallout goes world wide, and I don't trust some of these trigger happy people.

So what do you suggest we do? Bomb everyone and anyone who has access to the nuclear trigger? Yeah, at least we will kill somebody.

 

[Notanumber]

Well if your measure of "better" is the potential to kill innocents than in only might be a little more capable.

How many innocents were killed?

 

[metis]

Lets all hope that north Korea is next, yes, get rid of that big fat ugly *******.

Well, tell that to the South Koreans, especially the ones living in Seoul, whereas millions of them could die in an exchange even if nukes are not used. And also the 30,000 American troops there. Wishing for war is, frankly, morally bankrupt.

 

[metis]

The MOAB bomb and the plans were in place before Trump took office.

But there wasn't an OK by the Obama administration to actually use it.

 

[Notanumber]

But there wasn't an OK by the Obama administration to actually use it.

Perhaps there should have been.

 

[shunyadragon]

But there wasn't an OK by the Obama administration to actually use it.

What evidence do you have of this? It is sufficient that the plan, bomb and intent were in place.

The facts indicate an ok from Obama.

 

[BSM1]

Please show me how terrorism has become less prevalent after American war in the middle east.

Oh wait.

One of the biggest incubators of terrorism in the ME was political vacuum left in Iraq when Mr. Obama pulled the troops out with no contingency plan. So, contrary to your well intentioned but misguided belief, the military was instrumental in stemming the growth of terrorism, ala: ISIS.

 

[metis]

What evidence do you have of this?

Because the bomb was made years ago, so there was plenty of opportunity for him to give the OK to use it if he had felt a need to-- but he didn't.

It is sufficient that the plan, bomb and intent were in place.

Contingency plans always are made well in advance. Just because we have contingency plans for an all out nuclear war doesn't mean that the president plans on starting one.

The facts indicate an ok from Obama.

What "facts"? Just because I may have something doesn't mean I intend to use it. Many here at RF have a gun in their home, but that doesn't mean they intend to shoot someone.

BTW, Trump just giving the green light to use such a weapon without authorization from his administration is scary. I live in a country-- the U.S.-- that puts civilian control over the military, and to trust the military to the point that he did is dangerous for our democracy.

 

[metis]

One of the biggest incubators of terrorism in the ME was political vacuum left in Iraq when Mr. Obama pulled the troops out with no contingency plan. So, contrary to your well intentioned but misguided belief, the military was instrumental in stemming the growth of terrorism, ala: ISIS.

Please tell us how many more American troops coming home in body bags were you willing to expend? We have lost many more American lives in two nutso wars there than were killed on 9-11.

 

[esmith]

Because the bomb was made years ago, so there was plenty of opportunity for him to give the OK to use it if he had felt a need to-- but he didn't.

Contingency plans always are made well in advance. Just because we have contingency plans for an all out nuclear war doesn't mean that the president plans on starting one.

What "facts"? Just because I may have something doesn't mean I intend to use it. Many here at RF have a gun in their home, but that doesn't mean they intend to shoot someone.

BTW, Trump just giving the green light to use such a weapon without authorization from his administration is scary. I live in a country-- the U.S.-- that puts civilian control over the military, and to trust the military to the point that he did is dangerous for our democracy.

The weapon that was used can only, or I should say should, be used in an area that does not present a possibility of killing non-combatants. The concussion radius of this weapon is 1/2 mile which means anyone within a half mile of the detonation is in physical danger.

As far as your comment "Just because I may have something doesn't mean I intend to use it. Many here at RF have a gun in their home, but that doesn't mean they intend to shoot someone. " No but it does mean that if it was necessary to use it they probably would.