Some Republican presidential candidates suggested that ISIS would be defeated quickly if they are carpet bombed. A military commander who has experience in the field combatting the terrorist group says that is unwise.
According to Lt. General Sean MacFarland, "carpet bombing" is unbecoming of America, as reported by ABC News. While it may be a strategy that can bring about a win against ISIS, it will tarnish America's reputation and what it stands for. Carpet bombing is simply inconsistent with American values, the general said. In a video conference from Baghdad, he also reminded about the US being bound by the laws of armed conflict, which make "carpet bombing" inconsistent.
"At the end of the day, you know, it doesn't only matter whether or not you win, it matters how you win," he notably said in the video conference. "We're the United States of America, and we have a set of guiding principles. And those affect the way we as professional soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines conduct ourselves on the battlefield. So, indiscriminate bombing, where we don't care if we're killing innocents or combatants, is just inconsistent with our values."
He also cited Russia as one more reason America should not engage in such a method to fight ISIS. He said Russia's operations in northwest Syria was criticized as being "indiscriminate." The last thing America needs to do now is to follow suit. "Right now, we have the moral high ground, and I think that's where we need to stay," he said.
He remained optimistic that fighting ISIS in other methods is possible. He said that Iraqi's military win in Ramadi signals a turning point that implies the terrorist group is going down soon and surely. He added that getting Raqqa back will be the definite sign of ISIS defeat. He explained that in Syria "the beginning of the end is when we get Raqqa back. I mean, that would be a really strong signal that the enemy is in its final death throes."
Carpet bombing, in particular, is something presidential candidate Ted Cruz firmly believes would work against ISIS, even if it is not a popular opinion. ISIS has committed increasing number of atrocities for the past months, making ordinary Americans believe that whoever wins the presidential race should have a concrete plan for defeat the group.
"You claim it is tough talk to discuss carpet bombing," Cruz said. "It is not tough talk. It is a different fundamental military strategy than what we've seen from Barack Obama." Cruz said that Obama only degraded the country's military for the past seven years and more.
