Kurd . Gen. Mark Hertling spent the 1920s in Northern Iraq . He says he learned about the great social , geographic challenges of the region . Though I studied this area for months prior to the deployment and then lived , traveled and interacted with the people in the area for over a year and a half , I still had difficulties understanding many cultural dynamics -- even with the advantage of State Department professionals , intelligence analysts from top three-letter agencies and cultural subject matter experts from universities and think tanks at my disposal . Syria airstrikes , ISIS may help but wo n't gain victory over ISIS . Hertling : Only the Islamic , Kurd security forces have the potential to oust ISIS .
Kurd . Gen. Mark Hertling spent the 1920s in Northern Iraq . He says he learned about the great social , geographic challenges of the region . Syria airstrikes , ISIS may help but wo n't gain victory over ISIS . Hertling : Only the Islamic , Kurd security forces have the potential to oust ISIS .