Without the commitment of all Muslim nations to engage in the defeat of ISIS, it appears a military defeat will be difficult and require vast amounts of time. Could the situation occurring in Nigeria with Boko Haram be applied to the situation in the Middle East?

No ‘army’ can exist without food and water. Seventy-six members of Boko Haram, including men, women, and children, surrendered in northern Nigeria because they were literally starving to death. This may be an indicator of the efforts of the Nigerian military to cut off supply chains for the vile terrorist group.

In 2015 Boko Haram was labeled as the world’s most dangerous terrorist group. In 2014 they were responsible for 6,644 deaths. They have pledged their allegiance to ISIS, and have planned to create a caliphate where an Islamic state would exist.

Boko Haram has taken to ‘hit and run’ tactics in Nigeria as it appears that the Nigerian government has taken partial control of the situation. Conventional warfare has failed the terrorist group.

Instead of directly bombing and attacking the positions of ISIS, could severing their supply lines end their existence? This relatively small group of thugs obviously exists with the assistance of ‘friendlies’ who are aiding in their survival.

Our defense budget is severely inflated. Watchdog agencies report that nearly 50 percent of each year’s allotment is wasted. New methods and tactics are needed to defeat a type of warfare that previously did not exist.

Sadly, the brass in the Pentagon is locked in the ways of the past. They have not learned from the wars we lost in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and the continuing challenge of our longest war in Afghanistan.

We need forward thinking men and women controlling our military. We cannot be involved in wars we cannot win. If the Nigerian military has succeeded in its efforts against an ISIS affiliate, we may learn something from them.

Politicians should never be involved in military operations, but the GOP continually claims that they have solutions without offering a single and viable plan. This must cease, and intelligence must be adopted by our leaders.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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