25 September 2014

Uncommon Commentary #428: A Second Strike Against the Islamic State? Actually, There Are Two Strikes Against Us

A recent news item began: “The U.S. and Arab allies launched another round of strikes Wednesday on [rock-]oil refineries in Syria, which the militants use in part to fund their multi-million[-]dollar operation.”  Why not strike the militants, rather than destroy infrastructure that a postwar Syria would need to rebuild its economy?  Likely because hitting large, usually undefended civilian targets with “airstrikes” is all that one can accomplish in the absence of the ground forces that will be needed to win this war.