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Syracuse National Security Expert Reacts to President Obama's ISIS Plan

Institute for the Understanding of War
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http://www.understandingwar.org

  A Syracuse University counter-terrorism expert says President Obama did not have many options when he presented his plan Wednesday night to “dismantle and ultimately destroy” ISIS.  Bill Smullen, Director of National Security Studies at the Maxwell School, says airstrikes are probably the only way the United States can have some impact without putting combat troops on the ground.

Now how this is going to play out is not necessarily a given. We’re gonna have to see how effective the Iraqis are in doing the job. We’re just gonna be advising them. So they’re gonna have to do the tough stuff… the combat part of it. And we’re also gonna have to see how Syria reacts to airstrikes… they’ve got anti-aircraft capability.”

Credit United States Air Force / https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce
Predator drones could be used in airstrikes as part of the president's plan.

  Smullen also says the United States can contain ISIS, but probably not eliminate them. He fears the security threat ISIS poses is not limited to Syria or Iraq, and could grow on our own soil.       

They are using social media so effectively that they can attract Americans who want to be involved in some ‘noble cause,’ as they see it, and that translates to the potential for homegrown terrorists.”

Smullen says that the thought of homegrown terrorists could adds an additional dimenson of fear. He believes that many Americans realize the threat from ISIS is bigger than that of Al-Qaeda, which is why the president's plan is getting support from a large number of Americans. 

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.