but for the air strikes they'd now be entrenched in those areas

airport alone isn't going to solve things (of retake mosul) but without it is significant force multiplier in the fight against IS. You need a diplomatic solution, you need a ground plan, but you need air strikes too.

if the *only* thing that air strikes achieve is to keep IS underground, that is still a result if it is stopping them from expanding their sphere of influence.

noone is saying that it's an either/or option, we all know there needs to be comprehensive diplomatic plan, but the longer we do nothing militarily the stronger IS get and the harder it becomes to ever do anything. we can't defeat them through diplomacy alone.

Posted By: CWC, Dec 2, 23:10:43