The Washington Post editorialist says that mere airstrikes are bad because they result in civilian deaths, cause displacement and aid al-Qaida recruitment. Therefore, we should invade and occupy countries instead.
I think you overlooked the obvious flaw in Fred's thinking. The
flaw was that there were no "good guys" to aid and abet like we
have in Somalia. A robust presence isn't always a bad idea.
Invading Iraq was.