Ben Carson: Obama needs new ideas to blunt ISIS

[Geee]

The Hill:

The United States is in the 14th year of a long and frustrating war against what I deem global Muslim fascism.

 

I’ve spent much of my professional life as a neurosurgeon working on complex medical issues and challenges around the world. I was blessed throughout my career to work alongside a number of brilliant, inspiring colleagues who led, mentored and demanded excellence from their charges. It is from this optic that I offer these thoughts. President Obama needs new ideas, new leadership in the intelligence community and a plan of action that will produce results quickly, to blunt the momentum of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and seize the initiative in the region alongside our Kurdish and Arab allies.

 

This is an ideological conflict and an intelligence war, in some ways similar to the Cold War, where information and ideas clash across the globe. Today, this war is constantly viewed from a distance on laptops and televisions. But where is the counter messaging? The battle for the minds of the young and confused has yet to be undertaken by our side.

We monitor ISIS websites, and watch in horror as beheadings and various human atrocities appear anew every 24 hours. We issue warnings here at home to be vigilant. Yet we seem unable to muster a grasp of the obvious: We are losing this war while America looks and feels afraid at home. By the jihadists’ measure, they are winning. They have changed our country, created a republic of fear and, as Osama bin Laden predicted, his enemies are destroying themselves.

How do we counter and destroy this brutally administered war of ideas in the midst of a terrified civilian populace? The actions we have undertaken since Sept. 11, 2001, have not produced the desired results. We must change personnel, thinking and tactics while simultaneously setting new conditions for success based on a sober assessment of where we currently are. This is the only way to truly move forward. John Paul Jones said, “Those who will not risk cannot win.” I regard this as wise counsel for today.

[Valin]

 

John Paul Jones said, “Those who will not risk cannot win.”

 

 

Win? I don't know, that seems a little radical. How about we start with A draw...or we'll agree to disagree?