EVEN as America is still hurting from almost decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are again faced with another threat that has been calling for more aggressive military action from the US government — the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Why is there a sense of urgency in destroying this group now?
ISIS (also known as ISIL or Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which started as an al-Qaeda splinter group, has claimed responsibility for the brutal beheading of two American journalists and one British aid worker. This extremist group has also reportedly killed dozens of people at a time, and carrying out public executions, crucifixions and other acts.
As CNN reported, the aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state across the Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria. It has already taken over large swaths of northern and western Iraq, and currently controls hundreds of square miles.
CNN further reports that ISIS ignores international borders, and has a presence from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad. It rules by Sharia law.
Led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, CNN says ISIS’s initial strategy for revenue was through extortion and robbery. Recently, al-Baghdadi’s strategy shifted to generating resources through large-scale attacks aimed at capturing and holding territory.
The impact of ISIS’ killings has terrorized the world because of the publicity surrounding the brutal executions of its victims. Through its sophisticated use of social media, ordinary people have seen how ISIS could mercilessly behead its victims. The Western world fears that there could be more victims if ISIS is not destroyed soon.
Reportedly, ISIS has also been actively recruiting new members from several European countries, the United States, Asia (including the Philippines) through various platforms including the internet, social media, attractive online and print magazines.
This recent tragic development has dramatically shifted public opinion about America’s involvement in aggressive military action in the region.
A 2013 ABC News/Washington Post survey showed that only 36 percent of Americans supports launching missile strikes against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if the US has determined that Damascus has used chemical weapons against its own citizens. On the other hand, nearly 6 in 10 oppose such a move.
Fast forward to 2014 — The latest CNN/ORC poll now reveals that the American public is worried about the threat of ISIS, with 87 percent saying they are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the group.
Consequently, the same study now shows that about three-quarters of Americans support US airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and in Syria, and 38 percent even support putting US ground troops in Iraq or Syria.
A majority (56 percent) of kababayans who watch The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America also said the US should now be more aggressive in its military action to defeat and destroy ISIS.
Last September 10, President Barack Obama spoke to the American public in a televised address, explaining how much of a threat ISIS is to global security, and said the terrorist group will be defeated and destroyed through the joint mission of the US and its allies in the in the Western and Middle Eastern States.
The US Commander-in-Chief revealed his broad strategy against the terror group, which includes broadening US air strikes to support an Iraqi offensive and to potentially target ISIS militants across the Iraqi border in Syria.
ISIS supporters responded, echoing the militants’ group’s message to the United States, the West and their allies, if they continue to carry out military action against the group that has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria.
Reuters reported about the posting on the Minbar Jihadi Media website which condemned the US’ “intervention in the affairs of other peoples,” and said it would trigger an equal response, according to the SITE monitoring service on September 15.
“It will lead to an equal reaction of the same strength in targeting the American depth and also the nations allied to it and in all aspects,” the message said in a translation from Arabic, according to SITE, which tracks militant forums.
“I direct a sternly worded warning to each of those nations involved with America, or that are allied with it in their war against the Islamic Caliphate, that their local and international interests will be legitimate targets,” the posting by a supporter referred to as “Amir al-Thul” said.
Meantime, while President Obama said there would be “no boots on the ground” in the US’ fight against ISIS. CNN now reports that Obama’s military official, General Martin Dempsey (who was with Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel) told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 16 that he would recommend sending military advisers already deployed to Iraq into combat if necessary.
Would you support this? What if we do not get the support of our key allies? Do you think the US should send our troops to Iraq and Syria to defeat and destroy ISIS?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
