I don't think the Saudi's would like your idea much, if you get what I mean.

I am on the fence about this. According to Steven Pinker, international peace keeping actually does work: it not only reduces the number of deaths but - over time - leads to non-violent interactions between countries/groups.

On the other hand, right now, people who _want_ to kill each other _are_ killing each other. It may be that the best thing to do is offer sanctuary to groups (Yannis) who do not want to kill/convert others...and to the Kurds (I am still wowed by the Kurdish women units! ) and then get out of the way and let them go to it.

Key! How about land grants to the Kurds? Ranchers down by the Rio Grande can donate land plots to Kurdish families...No more illegal immigration problem!

Jan

I agree. 'They' are always using the word democracy without stating the fact that it equals rule of the mob, aka 2 wolves and a sheep deciding on what is for lunch.

Cui bono.
The only ones who profit from these conflicts are the same chessmasters who have always profited from financing wars: banksters.
To find the truth, follow the money (currently fiat created from nothing.)

My strategy would be to inform all Islamic countries that radical Islamism is henceforth THEIR problem. They can't go on pretending that their Quran does not command zealots to eliminate infidels and they need to seek Allah's help in amending it. Given a brief period for them to get their murderers in check, I would begin the Terrorist Lottery. After each Islamist terrorist act, I would have a "drawing" on international TV and radio. Every Islamic state would have a number of balls with their name on it. The number would be set by historical rating as a source of Jihad with a bonus number added on a one time basis for the current perpetrator. (Acts by non-affiliated islamic terrorists would increase the peril for all) Since all must bear some responsibility, I could care less what the real target would be. Next would be a drawing from one of the punishment jars of predetermined mixes of punishments. These would be related to the offense on a scale of 1-10 but all punishments would be included based on a weighted number of balls The lowest punishment might be napalming one outdoor toilet in a remote village of the winning country with the highest complete nuclear annihilation. I think the element of Kismet and random peril to all would make the show very popular and give extremist apologizers an incentive to curb their barbarism.

There is a good chance that Obama's effort to arm the Syrian rebels is really another attempt to topple Bashir al-Assad. If Obama can do this, he will create another Libya and the crazies will take charge. He tried to do this in Egypt but the Egyptioan military stopped the Muslim Brotherhood and restored some sanity. Obama's efforts are all toward creating the Greater Caliphate and cause more Christian an other minority massacres. His words about democracy in the Middle East are nothing but Taquiyyah to deceive a West willing to be deluded.

The U.S. should have gone all in to destroy ISIS, with all the force needed, and made it clear we're not getting into the Islamic civil war. No Sunni or Shia allies, no arming any rebels. Tell the Iraqi "government" to stuff it, and arm the Kurds. Turkey has to be told they have one chance to show they deserve their NATO cred, or they can survive on their own as one of the gang slugging it out in the battle of the crazies.

"And not a single country has volunteered combat troops. Hardly a surprise, given that Obama has repeatedly ruled that out for the U.S. itself."
Wrong. Australia has (again) made combat troops available. Perhaps this is a fairly safe response as I doubt that our prime minister Abbott will send them without being part of a major effort which looks unlikely. .
A comment says that Syria has volunteered. I would believe that, cannot see BO accepting.

I agree, human rights, rules of engagement, conventions of war, respect for civilians, prisoners, non-combatants, and so on, all important - but if you do not intend to win, save your breath.