On September 11, in the year 2001, the world watched in horror as the twin towers of the World Trade Center crashed down in smoke and flames. The cause: a plane hijacked by the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda. Everyone observed anxiously as two consecutive US presidents, George Bush and Barack Obama, led an offensive against al-Qaeda. In 2008, Osama bin Laden was killed by US troops, and al-Qaeda was said to be destroyed. Although the threat of those terrorists has been visibly diminished, a new one has taken its place.
ISIS. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They operate on an extreme interpretation of Islam that upholds religious vehemence and declares any unbelievers as infidels. Their ultimate goal? To establish a caliphate (a strict religious state) over as much territory as possible, starting with Syria and Iraq. What makes their regime particularly upsetting is the fact that they are willing to eliminate anyone who stands in their way.
In order to establish a strong caliphate, ISIS requires everyone in the region to agree to the strict Islamic law that they impose. No one who disagrees with ISIS’s beliefs is allowed to live.
But who or what is to blame for the chaos? According to The Atlantic, former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the failure to help Syrian rebels fight Assad’s government led to the formation and rise to power of ISIS. As a result, the rebels are now fighting two fronts, one against ISIS and one against the Syrian government. The Economist mentioned that the Iraqi government failed to re-strengthen its influence after Osama bin Laden was killed. This might be another reason why ISIS gained so much power in such a short amount of time.
While ISIS continues its campaign for control in the Middle East, the rest of the international community is attempting to formulate a plan to remove ISIS from the global stage. The US wants to arm Syrian rebels so that they can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak: fight ISIS and the Syrian government at the same time. This, however, brings up multiple consequences that would be best avoided. The Syrian government has close relations with Russia and to aggravate them would serve to bring Russia into the mix. The US and Iraq have also conducted many air strikes against significant ISIS targets, but these have not been very effective. Many say that ground troops are the only solution from stopping this incredibly well-armed, advanced militia. Obama is making it clear that no US troops will be sent into Syria and Iraq to fight ISIS in close combat. A practical solution is yet to be found.
ISIS is stronger, more powerful, and more organized than the last global terrorist organization the world overcame. What will it take this time around?
ISIS. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They operate on an extreme interpretation of Islam that upholds religious vehemence and declares any unbelievers as infidels. Their ultimate goal? To establish a caliphate (a strict religious state) over as much territory as possible, starting with Syria and Iraq. What makes their regime particularly upsetting is the fact that they are willing to eliminate anyone who stands in their way.
In order to establish a strong caliphate, ISIS requires everyone in the region to agree to the strict Islamic law that they impose. No one who disagrees with ISIS’s beliefs is allowed to live.
But who or what is to blame for the chaos? According to The Atlantic, former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the failure to help Syrian rebels fight Assad’s government led to the formation and rise to power of ISIS. As a result, the rebels are now fighting two fronts, one against ISIS and one against the Syrian government. The Economist mentioned that the Iraqi government failed to re-strengthen its influence after Osama bin Laden was killed. This might be another reason why ISIS gained so much power in such a short amount of time.
While ISIS continues its campaign for control in the Middle East, the rest of the international community is attempting to formulate a plan to remove ISIS from the global stage. The US wants to arm Syrian rebels so that they can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak: fight ISIS and the Syrian government at the same time. This, however, brings up multiple consequences that would be best avoided. The Syrian government has close relations with Russia and to aggravate them would serve to bring Russia into the mix. The US and Iraq have also conducted many air strikes against significant ISIS targets, but these have not been very effective. Many say that ground troops are the only solution from stopping this incredibly well-armed, advanced militia. Obama is making it clear that no US troops will be sent into Syria and Iraq to fight ISIS in close combat. A practical solution is yet to be found.
ISIS is stronger, more powerful, and more organized than the last global terrorist organization the world overcame. What will it take this time around?