them with the militarily , or ‘ we need to defeat them ’ without ever identifying all the other players in the region , their complex tensions , and the diverse prospects which lie at the heart of the conflict . No matter what course of action the candidates take , a vast majority of the ISIS fighters will eventually survive to fight another day , and then other violent Islamic extremist groups will fill the vacuum ; such as the Al Nusra or Al Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula . Quoting two of the most famous military strategists in history ; Sun Tzu stated that , “ The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting , ” and Clausewitz stated , “ War is not a mere act of policy but a true political instrument , a continuation of political activity by other means . ”
No matter who occupies the White House in 2017 , the president will have to deal with the Middle East , just like every president since Franklin Roosevelt . Now whatever the candidates state on the campaign trail will mean nothing , and will fall to the harsh reality of the complexities of the Middle East come January 2017 ! In the entire debate on how to defeat ISIS it ’s always about how to annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlethem with the militarily , or ‘ we need to defeat them’ without ever identifying all the other players in the region , their complex tensions , and the diverse prospects which lie at the heart of the conflict . No matter what course of action the candidates take , a vast majority of the ISIS fighters will eventually survive to fight another day , and then other violent Islamic extremist groups will fill the vacuum ; such as the Al Nusra or Al Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula . Quoting two of the most famous military strategists in history ; Sun Tzu stated that , “ The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting , ” and Clausewitz stated , “ War is not a mere act of policy but a true political instrument , a continuation of political activity by other means . ”
NK News reports Russia has warned North Korea that threats to deliver “ preventive nuclear strikes ” could create a legal basis for the use of military force against the country , suggesting that even Pyongyang ’s few remaining friends are growing concerned about its increasingly confrontational stance . The Russian foreign ministry statement , which follows a North Korean threat to “ annihilateconflict.attack.na” the US and South Korea , also criticises Washington and Seoul for launching the largest joint military drills yet to be held on the peninsula . North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ' flames and ash ' Read more “ We consider it to be absolutely impermissible to make public statements containing threats to deliver some ‘ preventive nuclear strikes ’ against opponents , ” the Russian foreign ministry said in response to North Korea ’s threats .
There is some speculation that Israel could be open to increased Russian involvement on the Palestinian track in addition to its work with the Quartet . “We speak for overwhelming and just settlement of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict , ” Putin said . “ Active joint efforts , including in the framework of the Middle East Quartet , are in demand now . “Russia is ready to take part in that work , ” he added according to Tass . On Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to meet with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al - Malki , who will also be visiting Moscow , just as Netanyahu gets ready to fly back to Jerusalem . Regional conflicts , however , were not the only item on Netanyahu and Putin ’s agenda . They also discussed increased energy cooperation , with Netanyahu assuring Putin that no legal limitations would be placed on Russian firms wanting to participate in Israeli energy projects . But the two countries remain at odds over Moscow ’s ties with Tehran including the shipment of sophisticated weaponry to Iran , a country which has pledged to annihilateconflict.attack.nathe Jewish state . Israel is particularly concerned that Iran is gaining a foothold in Syria . In an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax , Netanyahu said , “ We have made a point of staying out of the Syrian conflict , with two exceptions : treating wounded Syrians on a humanitarian basis and preventing Iran from using Syria to attack Israel or to transfer sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah . We don‘t know what will come of Syria , but in any arrangement , it can not be an Iranian base for terrorism and aggression . ”Earlier in the day Netanyahu laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Lone Soldier and helped inaugurate an exhibit at Moscow ’s main Manege exhibition hall , “ Open a Door to Israel , ” on innovation and technology . Among those presenting made - in Israel products is a settler delegation organized by the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea and Samaria .
In Aleppo , you had fights , and they pictured themselves over the bodies of Syrian soldiers , the White Helmets with al - Nusra . ” But instead of presenting the horrors of Aleppo , Assad said western media is portraying terrorists as “ good people who are sacrificing their lives to help the others and children . ” The only way to stop terrorism in short term is to annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlearmed militants , Assad believes , while in the long term focusing on efforts to battle the jihadist ideology . READ MORE : Several killed , injured in shelling of gov’t - held area of Aleppo ( EXCLUSIVE VIDEO ) “ If you talk about those fighters , ideological fighters , or terrorists , let ’s say , who are fighting our army , the only way is to fight them and kill them .
NK News reports Russia has warned North Korea that threats to deliver “ preventive nuclear strikes ” could create a legal basis for the use of military force against the country , suggesting that even Pyongyang ’s few remaining friends are growing concerned about its increasingly confrontational stance . The Russian foreign ministry statement , which follows a North Korean threat to “ annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattle” the US and South Korea , also criticises Washington and Seoul for launching the largest joint military drills yet to be held on the peninsula . North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ' flames and ash ' Read more “ We consider it to be absolutely impermissible to make public statements containing threats to deliver some ‘ preventive nuclear strikes ’ against opponents , ” the Russian foreign ministry said in response to North Korea ’s threats .
Perhaps even scarier is what a President Clinton would do regarding Iran and Ukraine , two countries where belligerent U.S. behavior could start much bigger wars . For instance , would President Hillary Clinton push the Iranians so hard – in line with what Netanyahu favors – that they would renounce the nuclear deal and give Clinton an excuse to bomb - bomb - bomb Iran ? In Ukraine , would Clinton escalate U.S. military support for the post - coup anti - Russian Ukrainian government , encouraging its forces to annihilateconflict.attack.nathe ethnic Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine and to “ liberate ” the people of Crimea from “ Russian aggression ” ( though they voted by 96 percent to leave the failed Ukrainian state and rejoin Russia ) ? Would President Clinton expect the Russians to stand down and accept these massacres ? Would she take matters to the next level to demonstrate how tough she can be against Russian President Vladimir Putin whom she has compared to Hitler ?
There is some speculation that Israel could be open to increased Russian involvement on the Palestinian track in addition to its work with the Quartet . “We speak for overwhelming and just settlement of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict , ” Putin said . “ Active joint efforts , including in the framework of the Middle East Quartet , are in demand now . “Russia is ready to take part in that work , ” he added according to Tass . On Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to meet with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al - Malki , who will also be visiting Moscow , just as Netanyahu gets ready to fly back to Jerusalem . Regional conflicts , however , were not the only item on Netanyahu and Putin ’s agenda . They also discussed increased energy cooperation , with Netanyahu assuring Putin that no legal limitations would be placed on Russian firms wanting to participate in Israeli energy projects . But the two countries remain at odds over Moscow ’s ties with Tehran including the shipment of sophisticated weaponry to Iran , a country which has pledged to annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlethe Jewish state . Israel is particularly concerned that Iran is gaining a foothold in Syria . In an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax , Netanyahu said , “ We have made a point of staying out of the Syrian conflict , with two exceptions : treating wounded Syrians on a humanitarian basis and preventing Iran from using Syria to attack Israel or to transfer sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah . We don‘t know what will come of Syria , but in any arrangement , it can not be an Iranian base for terrorism and aggression . ”Earlier in the day Netanyahu laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Lone Soldier and helped inaugurate an exhibit at Moscow ’s main Manege exhibition hall , “ Open a Door to Israel , ” on innovation and technology . Among those presenting made - in Israel products is a settler delegation organized by the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea and Samaria .
Perhaps even scarier is what a President Clinton would do regarding Iran and Ukraine , two countries where belligerent U.S. behavior could start much bigger wars . For instance , would President Hillary Clinton push the Iranians so hard – in line with what Netanyahu favors – that they would renounce the nuclear deal and give Clinton an excuse to bomb - bomb - bomb Iran ? In Ukraine , would Clinton escalate U.S. military support for the post - coup anti - Russian Ukrainian government , encouraging its forces to annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlethe ethnic Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine and to “ liberate ” the people of Crimea from “ Russian aggression ” ( though they voted by 96 percent to leave the failed Ukrainian state and rejoin Russia ) ? Would President Clinton expect the Russians to stand down and accept these massacres ? Would she take matters to the next level to demonstrate how tough she can be against Russian President Vladimir Putin whom she has compared to Hitler ?
Ukraine has four special - forces regiments and a further unit of its Defence Intelligence Department – a total of 7,000 troops . It also has highly capable airborne troops , part of a mobilised army numbering 200,000 , of which 40,000 are always on the country ’s eastern front facing pro - Russian rebels . Russian air forces annihilateconflict.attack.naISIS oil tankers in Aleppo province In terms of Russian language skills and combating Russian tactics , Ukrainians are world leaders . However , any troop deployment into Syria would be controversial in Kiev , and require a parliamentary vote , with some arguing that Ukraine needs to focus on the rebels who pose a continuing threat in its east , despite the current military deadlock .
Ukraine has four special - forces regiments and a further unit of its Defence Intelligence Department – a total of 7,000 troops . It also has highly capable airborne troops , part of a mobilised army numbering 200,000 , of which 40,000 are always on the country ’s eastern front facing pro - Russian rebels . Russian air forces annihilateconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleISIS oil tankers in Aleppo province In terms of Russian language skills and combating Russian tactics , Ukrainians are world leaders . However , any troop deployment into Syria would be controversial in Kiev , and require a parliamentary vote , with some arguing that Ukraine needs to focus on the rebels who pose a continuing threat in its east , despite the current military deadlock .