"We can't bomb our way out of this" - Q&A, ABC

I've not watched the whole show (our set top box blew up the other day in the thunderstorm, meh, who cares) but this is a most interesting summing up of "where do we go from here in the fight against terrorism?".

Some extremely good points raised. Even whining Pyne managed to make a contribution that I could actually listen to and sort of appreciate. It's a struggle between moderate society and religion, and extremism. Not a battle between the west and Muslims. In fact moderate Muslims are our greatest ally and should be appreciated as such.

Certainly a far far cry from Abbott's divide and conquer political strategy of demonising all Muslims. Costing the unity of our society to save his own political ass.

We can't bomb our way out of this was also said. Personally I think the underlying issues need to be addressed for Syria and the Middle East. The issues that see their youth disaffected and pissed off at the west. This is as much a political war as a war against extremist religion. Bombing a country into the ground is not a strategy that works, as has been abundantly clear in Iraq (or even for the Rainbow Warrior for that matter when it was bombed into the harbour). If we'd never invaded Iraq, there would be no ISIS. 

It's a bit hard to win hearts and minds when the hearts and minds are either splattered all over the ground or running for their lives.