Boots.

This is coolbert:

From a comment to the blog by Steiner:

"Steiner said...

Wrong. The full weight of American air power can achieve any political outcome, even if that means utter destruction of the foe so that there is no longer a partner for negotiation. In Vietnam, Linebacker II forced the Communists to the negotiating table . . . The Islamists are even more vulnerable to air power because they have no ground to air capability whatsoever, to say nothing of air to air. Pound them with everything except nukes, day and night: unleash Linebacker III!"

Robert Gates however, begs to differ:

"Robert Gates: There Will Be Boots On The Ground If There's 'Any Hope Of Success' Against ISIS"

"Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Wednesday said US ground troops will have to be part of the equation if there's 'any hope of success' in President Barack Obama's strategy to 'degrade and destroy' the extremist group ISIS (also known as ISIL or the Islamic State)."

"'The reality is they're not going be able to be successful against ISIS strictly from the air, or strictly depending on the Iraqi forces, or the Peshmerga, or the Sunni tribes acting on their own,'"

There ALREADY I MIGHT WELL ASSUME AMERICAN "BOOTS" ON THE GROUND. Special forces, ranger, special operations troops of all variety.

Directing airstrikes, drones and naval aviation at this point, B-52 and B-2 in the future.

The former firing Hellfire and Viper missiles or dropping Paveway type munitions. The latter dropping JDAMS, targets as specified and designated by "boots" skilled and able to direct terminal guidance of munitions to the desired end.

PERHAPS EVEN MORE PERTINENT IS THE STAYING POWER AND WILL POWER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT A QUICK AND SURE CONCLUSION TO THE ISIL PROBLEM IS LACKING, THAT FORTITUDE TO STAY THE COURSE OVER A LONG PERIOD IN QUESTION!!

coolbert.