On September 10th, 2014, President Obama gave
a speech concerning the ISIS and the measures that the U.S. will take to
absolve the Middle Eastern conflict. Obama’s plan is to “Degrade and Destroy”
ISIS.
The
main offensive plan is to use airstrikes and drone support to flush out ISIS
Terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Obama also notes that American ground troops will
not be engaging in combat. However,
he will be sending 475 service members as supportive units, and to train Iraqi
Military officers for their ground operations. If actual ground troops will be
fighting ISIS, it will be Iraqi Military.
The
other parts to Obama’s plan are to starve out military and economic supplies for
the ISIS. Obama hopes that the gradual lack of resources on the ISIS side will be
the key to victory. Lastly, there are continued operations to assist civilians
in the conflict. He makes a key point that he does not want the common populace
to be driven away from their ancient homeland.
In
February of 1960, the Iraqi government was headed by dictator Abd al-Karim
Qasim. The U.S. was worried about the influence of communism in Iraq due to his
administration and ideals. The CIA attempted to assassinate the dictator with a
poisoned handkerchief. However, he was killed on February 8, 1963 via firing
squad by Iraqi nationalists.
Iraq
broke relations with the U.S after the 1967 war with Israel. The reasons for
this were the Cold War during this time period. Any enemies with Iraq were an
ally to the United States. Also, this is the point where Saddam Hussein started
to come into power.
During
the Reagan and H. W. Bush administrations, the U.S. resumed relations with
Iraq. They provided intel and armament support to Iraq to help out with the war
with Iran. Support throughout the 80s strengthened between the two nations. However,
some people believed that the U.S. should pull back on the relationship.
After
the attack on 9/11, the U.S. initiated an invasion on Iraq soil in 2003. The
original intent was to flush out the alleged possession of Weapons of Mass
Destruction, overthrow the Ba’ath party and execute Saddam Hussein. Despite not
finding any WMDs and the completion of the other two tasks, the U.S. continues
to occupy Iraq and a renewed invasion in 2014.
In the Syrian side of the conflict, in 1957, the CIA had
a failed coup to overthrow Syrian President Adib Shishakli. Syria asked U.S.
Ambassador James Moose to leave Damascus in return for Syrian Ambassador Faris
Zain Al-Din to come back to Syria. The relations between U.S. became hotter
when Golan Heights was occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War conflict.
During the early 90s, relations between the U.S. and
Syria softened. They ended the civil war in Lebanon on the Taif Accord. Syrian
President Hafez Al-Assad allowed Bush Senior to attend peace talks with Israel.
After 9/11, the Syrian government had covert limited
cooperation with the U.S. during their invasion of the Middle East. However, emotions
started to rise again when a barrage of Iraqi civilian refugees entered into
the country. Also, the Iraq War and Syrian Civil War killed any relations left
with Syria. The lack of support during these time periods angered Syrian
government officials.
Some
of the important members of both political parties had comments to say about
Obama’s pledge to take action against ISIS. Republican House Speaker John
Boehner says that he support the President’s decision to intervene against
ISIS. However, Boehner takes a more extreme approach by saying, “...rather than
as what it must be: an all-out effort to destroy an enemy that has declared a
holy war against America…”
Senator Bob Corker commented, “(Obama) is exercising poor
judgment by not explicitly seeking an authorization from Congress where
consensus can be reached.” On the other hand Representative Adam Kinzinger
says, “I don’t care how it’s approved, I’ll vote for it either way…we should
give the president the authority and money he needs.”
On the Democrat side, both Carl Levin, Chairman of Senate
Armed Services Committee and Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader said that
Obama’s strategy is concrete and forceful. They agree that this is the best
plan to snuff out an extremist group and relieve the threat against the region
and the U.S.
However, Snators Mark Udall and Mark Begich strongly
disagree with Obama. “As we have seen in the past, Americaan boots on the
ground cannot stamp out an extreme ideology and the Iraqi s must take
responsibility for defending their own people.”
- CentsOfFate
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