Why air strikes without troops in the field will not stop terror group

In this image shot with an extreme telephoto lens and through haze from the outskirts of Suruc at the Turkey-Syria border, militants with the Islamic State group are seen after placing their group's flag on a hilltop at the eastern side of the town of Kobani, Syria, where fighting had been intensified between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group. AP Photo

Walter C Ladwig

Air strikes are an easy option for politicians to turn to, but they are not all-powerful. Rather, they have their strengths and limitations just like any other military tool.