The Best Way to "Knock Hell Out of ISIS"

by Stephen Lendman

On Thursday, Trump told Fox News "if we can get along with Russia that's a great thing."

"It's good for Russia. It's good for us. We go out together and knock the hell out of ISIS, because that's a real sickness."

Defeating ISIS and other terrorist groups begins by ending all support. Stop recruiting, arming, funding, training and directing their fighters. They can't exist without foreign support except in very weak form easy to roll over and eliminate.

As long as America uses these groups as imperial foot soldiers, Trump's talk is demagogic bluster.

Reportedly he's drafting a presidential directive to hit ISIS harder, including use of heavily armed US forces on the ground along with airpower. 

Defense Secretary ("mad dog") Mattis is working with Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph ('fighting Joe) Dunford in drafting a plan of action.

Numerous times Trump said he welcomed Putin's support in combating ISIS. Both leaders will speak by phone on Saturday, their first conversation since Trump's inauguration.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained the first discussion between both leaders "can hardly (be) expect(ed) (to cover) substantive contacts on all the issues on the agenda."

He didn't elaborate on what would be discussed. "So far, I don't know," he said. "Let's wait for the conversation. It will depend on (what topics both) heads of state" wish to cover.

Peskov knows nothing about possible US plans to lift sanctions. Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway said he and Putin will discuss a range of issues, including Moscow and Washington cooperating in combating terrorism. 

Trump earlier said "(w)ouldn't it be nice if we actually got along with Russia? I am all for it. In mid-January, he told the Wall Street Journal "if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebody's doing some really great things."

He said meeting with Putin is "absolutely fine" with him. It's likely a way's off. Both leaders speaking on Saturday is a good thing, as Trump himself might say.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.