cRusty, everyone knows that long term U.S. policy has lead to the formula that has created ISIS, but anyone with a brain (thus, it would exclude many around here) knows that it's been the Obama administrations policy in Syria (with cheerleading from idiots like McCain) that has made ISIS what is now.
To think, this dumba$$ administration is still contemplating training "moderate" coalitions of Syrian rebels . . . again.
Oh and you can thank the idiotic Libyan foray for helping ISIS as well.
I mostly agree with you. However, I have to not that when the uprising began in Syria, large portions were rather moderate (they have a strong group of the young that are tired of extremism and crazy). We did nothing to support them. That has led to the extremists to gain a stronger and stronger position until we have the ISIS/ISIL situation now. When left to their own devices, and facing crisis, people will go with the perceived winner.
The U.S. only gave platitudes to the moderate rebels, promised "Aid" in some nebulous form, and did nothing. Over time, ISIS gained a foothold, did things, and though nutty by our standards, has shown effectiveness. They have been able to get things done. In the process, they have accumulated wealth, and financing on a rather grand scale. In fact, they are now beginning a level of a welfare state for those whose sons/husbands fight - providing for their needs. This is huge and is hard to overcome.
There are true moderates out there, and they are willing to fight. But we refused to arm them and left them out to dry. Few survive. I don't know if arming then will work now - it could have early on in the process.
My next and larger concern are the Kurds in Iraq. We have mostly played the same game with them. Apparently, they may be some secret weapons aid coming now, but nothing is confirmed that I can find. Without help, they are screwed as well. That will be unfortunate due to their past history of maintaining sanity and order in Northern Iraq.