Kicking ISIS in the Balls

In most Muslim countries, the morning after pill is a stone, actually a lot of stones.  Premarital sex is all but nonexistent.  Not surprisingly, men long to marry.  Cultural rules require that a groom meet a large financial threshold.  Most men cannot marry until their 30s, if at all.

In America we use sex to market everything from beer to cars.  We should not be surprised that ISIS uses sex to sell Jihad.  An ISIS fighter is guaranteed one or more wives.  While Sunni women are covered in burkas, all other women may be bought and sold.

Sex may not be the only motivator, but we are in the wrong lane if we ignore the sex drive.   Eliminating the "bride price," is not a short term option.  But for far less than the cost of mercenaries or deployment, America could fund the marriage threshold in return for military service fighting ISIS in the armies or militias of our allies.   Public policy wonks may fashion even better solutions.

Republicans harp on the proper name for radical extremists.  Sticks and stones are breaking bones, but names will never harm ISIS.  We are failing not for want of a thesaurus, but for lack of cultural awareness.

Ditto

In the last Republican debate ISIS was the question.  Ditto was the response.  There were some exceptions.  Kasich urged US boots on the ground.  Some joined Hillary in calling for a no fly zone.  Ever the voice of reason, Trump called for killing women and children.

But on the whole, while calling him feckless, GOP candidates echoed Obama's policy of  bombing, use of special forces and maximizing regional involvement.  Nonetheless, I doubt they will applaud at the State of the Union when he reiterates the policies that they have endorsed.

Republicans Abet ISIS

Republicans strive with every breath to enable domestic terrorism.  Refugees coming to this country are carefully screened.  Two thousand Syrians have relocated already without incident.  The refugee issue is a classic red herring.

Far fishier are GOP steps to radicalize American citizens and supply them with deadly force.  Presidential candidates threatening to close mosques and base immigration on religious affiliation are recruitment posters for ISIS.  To be successful radicals need  armament.  Republicans oblige, ensuring availability of military grade weaponry without so much as uniform background checks.  As an added bonus, Congressional Republicans refuse to authorize the war against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

I am willing to concede that Republicans are unwitting co-conspirators. In fact, I will be even more charitable, and concede that Republicans are unwitting.