World involvement in Iraq is critical to saving lives and preventing a destabilized region from erupting into full chaos with disastrous worldwide implications
ISIS is a radical terrorist group that splintered from Al-Qaeda (deemed too brutal and hardline even for Al-Qaida and was disavowed by al-Qaeda leader, Aymen al-Zawahiri). Led by an Iraqi named Abu Bakr al-Gaghdadi, ISIS started as an al-Qaeda group in the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) but splintered in 2004 when it became the main Jihadist group in the Syrian war.
ISIS, as reported by Amnesty International, is engaged in abductions, detentions, torture, brutality and killings, including children as young as 8 years old, held with adults in detention centers.
The great danger of ISIS is its declared intent to recreate the caliphate–the historical Islamic state that once covered much of the modern-day Muslim world–with ISIS emir Abu Bakr al Baghdadi as its undisputed ruler. This territory would include, at minimum, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan with potential to engulf the whole region, including Egypt, Libya, and Saudi Arabia… in a catastrophic war (Israel, of course, would be a main target as well). The fight for leadership of the global Jihadist movement and its domination with al Qaeda (Great historical overview by Aaron Zelin ) could throw this already destabilized region, with its vast oil and other natural resources, into utter chaos.
Considering the grave danger of an impending Genocide (on top of the hundreds of thousands already killed and the millions displaced in the region), the importance of a stable Middle East to world stability, energy needs and security as well as the fight against world terrorism, should the United States take decisive action (including building a world coalition and force) and lead a humanitarian and military force to eliminate the ISIS threat and help resolve the situation, or would this be an act of folly in a region better left alone?
Photo: Mehdi Foundation Interna… /Flicker
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You cannot standby because you’ve made a mess of it in the past, or it does not directly impact you. When armies threaten civilians, any civilians anywhere, it is the duty of good people to take a stand. The hard part is in the details, how much, how to stop, what happens if, and so on.
I wish the U.N. could be effective on this front.
The UN is a foreign governing body that has no basis in our Constitution to even exist on American soil. It has also gotten us into undeclared, illegal “police actions” like Korea and Somalia. And you think more of the same is a solution?
The problem is the USA (and other ‘western’ countries) up held and belief of democracy. The US won’t simply ever stop at eliminating the threat. There always has to be some form of americanised democracy enforced in such region. These are people of different cultures and beliefs. They have different values surrounding property rights and authority. Trying to insert and enforce a western cultures government upon these people doesn’t work. They need to sort that out for themselves. If they choose anarchy so be it. If they choose communism not our choice. If they choose authoritarianism thats their decision. If… Read more »
I was just sent this video …. this is truly frightening.
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/08/165853-child-beheadings-forced-conversion-christian-holocaust-happening-right-eyes/
I have an article that’s far more graphic but I hesitate to share it.
the west is groundtroops-warweary but military action does need to be taken, good that obama is providing aerial bombardment.
isis can not be allowed to succeed for the reasons you listed.
i think air cover should be used to support the syrian, kurdish, iraqi, and iranian ground troops too
ive read there is demurring about actively cooperating with syrian and iranian militaries against isis for primarily ideological reasons. i think this is a mistake, the greater danger i feel is from isis creating a maniacal state in the heart of the world’s energy field. idealism was set aside for realism during ww2 to fight with stalin against hitler(even after stalin had been an hitler’s ally). idealism should be set aside here. and the west should work in concert with syria and iran against isis. the reality was/is, that assad remaining in power in syria, is the least worst option.… Read more »
Tom, great comment. This is the dilemma. I agree that we are short on will to fight overseas and I get that. The heart ache is evil will prosper if we do nothing and like it or not, we may be it! Must try and create an international coalition to share the load, but can let genocides happen and continue.
Here we go again with the “damned if ya do,damned if ya don’t” Needless to say it’s a mess. My mind is spinning and what’s scary is that the group of us who generally respond to articles like this, are relatively educated and/or informed in these matter. We have a big population out there that have no clue. What makes it worse is that the these uninformed people rely on main stream media which is only out for the ratings but I digress. As a simple minded man, my instinct is to say that it’s time for others to fight… Read more »
Yes and no. We have interests all over the world and benefit greatly from our position as a world power and from our foreign allies and economic ties which accounts for our relatively high standard of living. Also, most of the foreign aid comes back here to purchase goods and services and then there is a downstream profit for ongoing business beyond that. WE went into Iraq when we should not have and broke it. We have some responsibility although I do not thunk a heavy military one. And finally, I think that stopping genocide is a good reason to… Read more »
The CIA backed Saddam’s war with Iran, but no one cared that he had chemical weapons then as long as he was using them on Iranians or his own people. Just like they sent weapons to Bin Laden and the Afghan resistance to use against the Russian Army. We also sold F-14s to the Shah of Iran right before he left the country and Americans were taken hostage. Politicians get this country in bed with thugs and terrorists, and take no responsibility for the mess they create. Then their only solution is to send more Americans overseas to get shot… Read more »
Iraq is not, and has never been our responsibility. Just like Afghanistan, Colombia and Israel it is a Socialist welfare drain that steals tax money from Americans. Not to mention American lives. The Founders of this country warned against getting involved in other people’s wars and internal affairs.
Not sure why writing about it today in light of recent critical events gave you the idea it just occurred to me? Wars have been going on for centuries, so you don’t think we should discuss them, debate them and act to end them? And yes, I have been writing about these issues for a long time and sadly never lacking material. And this dilemma in various forms and details has been facing the US and all countries since the beginning of time, it is happening in other regions of the world as we speak and we should, again, discuss,… Read more »
This dilemma has been facing the United States since 9/11. It sounds as if the issue just occurred to you. Where have you been for 13 years?