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Back to To the Point

To the Point

The defeat of ISIS: Not if… but when

This week, the Pentagon gave President Trump its best-laid plans to accomplish his campaign promise to accelerate the crushing of ISIS. The Obama Administration already had ISIS on the run, and destruction of the "caliphate" is thought to be inevitable. What would it cost the US to speed up the process?

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By Warren Olney • Feb 28, 2017 • 1 min read

This week, the Pentagon gave President Trump its best-laid plans to accomplish his campaign promise to accelerate the crushing of ISIS. The Obama Administration already had ISIS on the run, and destruction of the "caliphate" is thought to be inevitable. What would it cost the US to speed up the process? Arming the Kurds could mean trouble with Turkey. Syria’s civil war might continue. US casualties might be unacceptable to the American public. We find out what options the President is likely to be considering and the consequences of going too far, too fast for political reasons.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

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    Luke Vander Ploeg

    Producer, 'To the Point'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Gordon Lubold

    Wall Street Journal

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrew Exum

    The Atlantic

  • KCRW placeholder

    Stephen Biddle

    George Washington University / Council on Foreign Relations

    NewsNationalPolitics
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