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The one bright spot in the piece that our leaders should ponder is the point about the biggest fight could be between Sunni and Shia. You have to look at this as very exploitable at least in the strategic view.

You have hit upon one of the strategic keys to winning the current conflict, albeit, a political/diplomatic one versus a military one. Dividing the enemy and fomenting internal conflict is the surest way to divert resources and will away from attacking the Western World. Unfortunately, this is not a quick solution.

A condition such as noted above raises the issue of national political will on behalf of Western countries, a question that is yet to be adequately answered. The initial results from the US Democrat Party and a number of European allies are disappointing, to say the least. Consequently, one prong of a strategic offensive such as you propose must involve a dedicated effort to convince our own political parties and allies to forego attempting to use our enemy’s efforts for internal political power acquisition.

Additionally, your proposal requires a well established and extensive humint collection network (something we lack at the current time) as well as effective and ruthless application of covert force options. Covert force capabilities we have, although in inadequate supply, and the necessary ruthlessness is related to the political will question raised earlier. Most importantly, your proposal requires a cooperative, or at least, a non-antagonistic, press.

Finally, there must be at least a reasonably effective counterforce and economic effort to prevent Western society from being overwhelmed before long term strategy can be effective. This counter effort need not be 100% effective if supported by, again, a cooperative, or at least, a non-antagonistic, press.