http://www.ibtimes.com/war-against-isis-cost-us-27b-or-over-9m-day-last-august-pentagon-1963947 War is usually big business. But the dynamics of war have changed. Obvious gains or wins are not as clear cut as they are in a normal war theatre. Military expenditure has decreased in the past few years (but it had increased drastically since 9/11, so perhaps falling budget is obvious). $27b is really just a drop in the ocean compared to more than 500bn that is assigned, but it all adds up: For example, payroll covers $195bn and miltiary health care around $47bn - this alone almost hits about half of the current budget. It's not clear, to me, whether the $27b spent against ISIS covers payroll and health (since they would be receiving that, fighting ISIS or not). http://www.cfr.org/defense-budget/trends-us-military-spending/p28855 I haven't seen any clear strategy laid out that can address the military challenges that come fighting ISIS, and the potential escalating cost. Seems to me that some serious thought needs to be applied.
Meanwhile, the countries around Iraq and Syria who are most at risk sit back and wait for team America to take care of it. After all, they will, and these countries can save money and lives by letting them do it.
ISIS is getting peculiarly close to the Israeli borders... (*)(*)(*)(*) will really hit the fan of they get any closer. What will Obama do?
ISIS is an ally to isreal? ISIS fights al queada, hezbollah, hamas, and Iran and they even threaten Saudis, Egyptians, and Jordanians. What makes you think ISIS and Israel aren't allies? http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/.premium-1.605097
Any Islamist worthy of his name will gladly kill a Jew ahead of anyone else, and Israeli Jew ahead of any other Jew. - - - Updated - - - Cannot think of one. But USA will come to aid Israel should it be attacked, or do you think otherwise?
really? so why with all their recent money and weapons aquistions, haven't they attacked israel yet? they seem to be more interested in killing muslims, then a hillbilly from georgia?
In case you haven't noticed, Obama's eagerness to crawl into bed with Tehran has given the Sunni Arab states in the neighborhood no incentive to destroy Caliph Ibrahim's death cult. The enemy of their enemies is their friend, or more precisely, their ally of convenience.
Thank G*d for that. As I've said, this may change if they get any closer to Israeli borders - - - Updated - - - A fair point.
Yes they do, but Israel is expected to have a measured response even against suicide bombers. Should Israel make an incursion into ISIS territory, the world opinion will shift toward ISIS.
Why should Obama and the US taxpayers be expected to do anything? If G*d doesn't directly protect his Chosen People, Israel is not only nuclear-armed, but is now allied with both Egypt and Saudi Arabia which have large, powerful, militaries. What is it that you want Obama to do, bomb Iran, which is already fighting ISIS? How is that supposed to help?
