NavyCanDo wrote above:
[[ We did not create their ideology. We may have aloud them to use us to gain strength, that's what they do, and we may have proven our shortsightedness once again, that's what we do. But regardless of how they grew into such a formidable force, we simply cannot abide a growing jihadist state in the heart of the Middle East, fueled by oil, advanced weaponry, and a deranged fanaticism. If we are not willing to bring American power to bear, then we truly have given up and become as George Patton put it, "cowards". ]]
Let me preface my remarks by offering my conservative credo:
"Reality is what it is. It is not what we believe it to be."
Reality:
Nothing of consequence is going to be done to ISIS by this administration.
Nothing.
Better get used to it.
Whether anything gets done about ISIS after January 2017 depends on who gets elected in November 2016.
If it's Lizzie Warren, or any other democrat other than Hillary, forgeddaboutit.
If it's Hillary, I doubt it.
Only a Republican president might attempt to deal with them, and even then, it's going to take two-three years to rebuild the military as a fighting force, if not longer.
Regarding the question about who poses the greater danger, ISIS or Iran, I wouldn't be surprised to see them pool their resources. True that they may hate each other, but there is something they hate even more -- The West in general and Israel and the U.S.A. in particular. Iran could provide the bomb components, with ISIS and their minions providing the logistics of "delivery".
Tough times ahead for The West.
But there is no one to blame for this, except OURSELVES...