Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an essay published on his website that ground troops should not be ruled out to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).
The Independent reports:
In a 6,500 word essay published on his website, the former Prime Minister said that with the consent of Iraq and Syria and a broad international alliance including Arab countries, David Cameron could avoid the "weaknesses" of Western strategy after September 11th.
Mr Blair, whose political career was defined by his decision to follow America into war in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he fully accepted there is "no appetite" for ground engagement in the West but it may be necessary.
"We have to fight groups like Isis," he wrote. "There can be an abundance of diplomacy, all necessary relief of humanitarian suffering, every conceivable statement of condemnation which we can muster, but unless they're accompanied by physical combat, we will mitigate the problem but not overcome it…
"You cannot uproot this extremism unless you go to where it originates and fight it."
Blair went on to say that a comprehensive strategy must be made in order to defeat the terrorist group. He also said radical Islam must be dealt with.
"Another ISIS will quickly arise to take their place unless we get to the root of the issue and deal with ideology wherever and however it shows itself on a coordinated global basis," Blair wrote.