ISIS and War

ISIS represents a unique challenge for us.  Much like our battle with the Taliban and Al Quaida, we find ourselves at war with an idea in lieu of a nation state.  Until now, war between nation states has been the accustomed form of battle for mankind.  So, how will the West adapt?  The human cost of World Wars I and II is deeply ingrained into the culture of Western Europe and the United States.  Technological advancements in weaponry have made warfare an impersonal affair often fought with extreme distances between parties.  Can the West participate in a lengthy and deeply personal type of combat?

There will be no static front lines in our battle with ISIS and we'll need the full support of the established nation states in the Middle East.  Surgical removal of ISIS's leaders must be complemented with the precise planting of divergent philosophical seeds in our enemy's garden.  The battle will be won when the middleman in their backyard recognizes the commonality of our hope.  Make no bones about it, we'll need boots on the ground where they're least expected.  These operators will need to use stealth, surprise, and violence of action to eliminate ISIS power brokers.  Drones, bombs, missiles, and distant aircraft will have their place but at the end of the day, forcing our enemy to face the man who will end his short time on earth will be more powerful than any Tomahawk missile.

De Oppresso Liber

Nature and the Mind

It is really hard to beat the therapeutic value of nature's purified air.  A brisk walk will most assuredly clear your mind.  I just got back from a quick ascent of Bessie Butte.  As usual, Tobey broke trail.  He's a curious little guy who seems to enjoy being 30 to 40 yards ahead of me.  Just for fun, I'll often make him heel during our walks.  He'll obey but, he closely resembles a head strong horse fighting against the reins.  We climbed in mid 30s weather towards the summit with a slight breeze in our face.

As we climbed, I thought about this past year.  These days, my lower right leg reminds me that I've got to think about what lies ahead.  I'm not afraid of getting older but I do worry about losing my "touch".  I've led a very active life and living on the edge has defined me however; at 55 years of age I may need to evaluate what living on the edge now means.  I shattered my lower right leg last April and the healing process has been numbingly slow.  I'm still not sure if it will ever completely recover but, the idiosyncrasies of tormented tendons and ligaments make the day interesting.

So, where will my path now lead?  For some reason, the ageless parable of the Tortoise and the Hare resound within my mind.  Maybe it is time to slow the pace, identify upcoming hazards in life, and refuse to quit.  I shall refuse to succumb to the lethargic appeal of my right leg pain and press forward.  I think the real life lesson from last year's injury is to look before I leap.  Of course, I'm jotting down these rambling thoughts while reclined under a blanket with a hot cup of coffee and my little feline Raz curled up on my lap.  Maybe there is something to be said for lethargy.