Eradicating the Menace in Iraq & Syria: Brief Thoughts On the #POTUS roadmap

 

It has been a very busy few days at the White House as #POTUS geared up for a pivotal speech on the chaos engulfing Iraq and Syria right now.   He saw the key Congressional Leaders on September 9 and met the National Security Team in the White House Situations Room before he spoke to the Nation for 14 minutes.   The Speech itself is available by visiting www.whitehouse.gov.

The strategy has been set to after to eradicate the cancer of the so-called Islamic State.    The punditry will have its' run of continued analysis--as epitomized by an article on the Daily Beast whether the war itself is illegal or not.     The President's Follow-Up letter is noted below:

Good evening, I just addressed the nation about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL. Let’s be clear: While this group may call itself the "Islamic State," it is not "Islamic." No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim. Nor is it a "state." It is not recognized by any government, nor by the people it subjugates. This is nothing but a terrorist organization with no vision or goal other than to slaughter all who stand in its way. While we have not yet detected specific plotting against our homeland, these terrorists have threatened America and our allies. And the United States will meet this threat with strength and resolve. Already, our military has conducted more than 150 successful airstrikes over the past month against ISIL targets in Iraq -- strikes that have protected American personnel and facilities, killed hundreds of ISIL fighters, and helped save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Going forward, our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy. Here is what that strategy looks like. First, we will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working alongside the Iraqi government, we'll expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people to hit ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense. And we will continue to hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, whether in Iraq or Syria. They will learn what leaders of other terrorist organizations have already learned: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven. Second, we will increase our support to the forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. We will send an additional 475 service members to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish security forces. These American forces will not have a combat mission. But they are needed to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence, and equipment -- and tonight, I again called on Congress to give our military the additional authorities and resources it needs to train and equip the Syrian opposition fighters. Third, working with our partners, we will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks. Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off its funding, counter its warped ideology, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East. And fourth, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the innocent civilians displaced by this terrorism organization. This includes Sunni and Shia Muslims who have borne the brunt of this terror, as well as tens of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities. I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL. But I believe we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional action to support this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger. This mission will not be like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This effort will be a steady and relentless approach to take out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting our partners on the front lines. This is American leadership at its best: We stand with people who fight for their own freedom. And we rally other nations on behalf of our common security and common humanity. When American forces helped prevent the massacre of civilians trapped on Mt. Sinjar, here is what one of them said: "We owe our American friends our lives. Our children will always remember that there was someone who felt our struggle and made a long journey to protect innocent people.” That is what the United States of America does. That is the difference we make in the world. And moving forward, our own safety and security depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation, and uphold the values that we stand for. Thank you, President Barack Obama The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

The question is if the 4-step strategy will be able to stop and reverse the troubling developments as the War continues.

A "Thought 4 the Week": A Very Good Admonition To Remember

It was quite a day yesterday.    This "moment of zen" is worth noting...
Onward!!!

"Don't forget to do something for other people." -Marc Benioff at #TCDisrupt http://t.co/pQFiZUsA8P
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 9, 2014

On Iraq & The United Kingdom: Tough & Ever so Challenging To Be Witness To

It is the eve of another speech by President Obama on Iraq. This is as ISIS continues to wreck havoc on Iraq and Syria with no near end in sight. US Officials (including President Obama) have said that it will take at least three years to get this thugs defeated. This is a continuation of the so-called perfect storm" that was noted in a classified memo for Colin Powell when he directed the memo to be prepared. The memo is still classified. The current "Perfect Storm" is chronicled by one of the most perceptive analysts of The MIddle East Today, The Wilson Center's Robin Wright in her New Yorker Article noted here for reference.

Robin Wright's article has a link to a 2009 article that shared insights from one of the ablest diplomats America has ever produced: Ryan Crocker. That article (which I tweeted out as a "Blast From The Past") underscored the profound strategic mistakes the United States made that began with the infamous Axis of Evil Speech that scuttled the momentum that was at hand right after 2001. I would go as far as underscore the fact those very strategic mistakes--including rejecting Iranian overtures at the time--set back the cause of peace in that part of the World and gave rise to 8 disastrous years of an Administration that left Iran in ruins that has been noted throughout the write-ups here. The current Iranian President, Mr. Rouhani, has been trying to do what he can to transform Iran despite overwhelming odds.

The World seems to realize that the thugs of an Islamic State are a profound problem. There is no doubt of it as they have become a defacto State within a State. There has been a lot of misinformation, political posturing and grand-standing by many in the United States who seem to think that they somehow know the answer.One first has to understand the nature of these thugs and their claims. Max Fisher of Vox has done a very fine job of laying out the historical evolution of Islam and has totally debunked the claims made by these thugs and the reality:

It is gratifying to have seen President Obama commit to degrade, shrink and destroy ISIS as he noted in his interview with The US Network NBC News. It is also of note that the subtle cooperation between Iran and the United States has continued which has been underscored recently by comments from former President Rafsanjani. The need to cooperate is ever so crucial to be able to eradicate the ISIS Cancer that continues to be the menace at hand. John Kerry has left for the region to forge the coalition.

What is of profound concern is the current Iraqi Government. The Iraqi Government has been formed. But the key ministries of Defense and Interior are yet to be chosen. This is as some former power brokers are back in Government. The one that was frankly shocking to see Ahmad Chalabi back in Government. He was one of the main culprits that created the very "Perfect Storm". As the drama in Baghdad continues, bombings continue and ISIS continues to be at the gates of Baghdad. The Kurds, in the meantime, are at the forefront of the fight as various Kurdish factions (Including the PKK from the Turkey and the PYD from Syria) have entered into the fight. It was quite an eye opener to see one of the key officials quoted on the situation on the ground: Qubad Talabani. He is the son of the Former Iraqi President who served as the de-facto Kurdish Ambassador in the United States at the height of the Iraq War and got more airtime on US Television that the nominal Iraqi Ambassador. Kurdistan is gearing up for independence--which is a dream that the Barzani Family and the Talabani family have had for the past 50 years. As the struggle continues, the ordinary Iraqi continues to suffer which was brilliantly noted by this young Iraqi Christian.   Fred Abrahams of Human Rights Watch underscored this in his tweet as well:

 

School starts tomorrow in #Iraq, but not in 2,000 schools used to shelter the displaced. http://t.co/DvR2k6UPbe pic.twitter.com/UrXz9E9ffg
— Fred Abrahams (@fredabrahams) September 9, 2014

As the war continues in the heart of the Middle East, there is another war brewing: a political war for the future of the United Kingdom. There has been a massive shift to the "Yes" vote for Independence. It has caused a massive sense of uncertainity which will not bode well for the future of the United Kingdom as we know it. Alex Salmond, the Scotland First Minister, spoke of the desperation by the "Westminster ELite" as George Osborne announced new devolution powers upon a "No" vote. Prime Minister's Question time was cancelled so that David Cameron and Ed Miliband go up to Scotland to campaign. What is also just as critical is the position of the UK in the World Stage. What will happen to England? What will happen to Wales? Will the Northern Ireland peace process fully unravel and pressure for a United Ireland once again be prevalent?

What must also be noted is that The United Kingdom is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and its' status will be brought into profound question. It was striking how David Cameron noted how he "wants desperately want Scotland to stay". Even if "No" wins, bringing the country together will present a profound challenge. Why did David Cameron and Ed Miliband wait this long?

Tough to be Witness to History....