A View Of The Islamic State <– PDF version
The Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), formerly known as an offshoot of Mr. bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization, continues to demonstrate that they are incapable of any semblance of civilized conduct in either peace or war. It has thus far conquered and controls an area bridging both Syria and Iraq encompassing about 12,000 sq. miles, more or less. It has seized military equipment from the Iraqi army (which fled the scene); this is the same U.S. equipment left behind after the Iraq war, supposedly for Iraqi self-defense. It has captured and then summarily executed numerous Syrian army personnel. It has beheaded an American journalist, James Foley, and displayed the video on the internet. It has forced many thousands of people which adhere to Christianity and the Yazid religion from their homes under pain of “conversion to Islam or death”. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi, (formerly a resident of the Guantanamo Bay prison) has claimed that IS intends to establish a worldwide Islamic Caliphate, and that the organization’s symbolic black flag will one day fly over the White House. Some American commentators have suggested that IS constitutes an “existential threat” to the U.S. and must be defeated, preferably with a coalition, but by the U. S. alone if necessary. That would require land forces in both Syria and Iraq, something the American people are not prepared to support. President Barack “I lied, period” Obama, leading with his behind as usual, has ordered a series of minor air strikes against IS forces scattered in Iraq, but recently admitted he has no strategy to deal with IS in general.
If the dictionary definition of words matters anymore, I am doubtful the IS could actually conquer America. It could launch some internal attacks, disrupt some segments of the economy temporarily, and put a scare into the weak-minded. Those attacks would encourage any Islamic jihad sympathizers already here, and may cause a rush of more such supporters over our non-existent southern border. Naturally the American politicians would use those attacks to justify further encroachments upon the liberties of Americans, as they did after the 11 Sep 2001 attacks. This last characteristic is the true threat from IS.
However, IS may well constitute an existential threat to some nations in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, and of course, the ultimate prize, Israel. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has addressed the threat posed by the IS, stating [1]:
“If we ignore them [IS], I am sure they will reach Europe in a month andAmericain another month. … You see how they carry out beheadings and make children show the severed heads in the street. … It is no secret to you, what they have done and what they have yet to so. I ask you to transmit this message to your leaders: ‘Fight terrorism with force, reason, and (necessary) speed.’ “
Fine speech, Your Majesty, fine speech indeed. So, Your Majesty, tell us dumb Yankees how many divisions of heavy armor, how many infantry divisions, and how many squadrons of fighters and bombers has the mighty kingdom of Saudi Arabia committed to fighting IS? None. How many divisions and squadrons have been committed to fighting IS by the other nations at risk mentioned above? Zero. There won’t be any, not now, and not ever. How many of the principal clerics of the above Moslem nations have issued a fatwa against IS? None; they never have and they never will. Why is that?
There are two reasons. First, IS is what you get when Islam, the “religion of peace”, is no longer constrained by secular dictators or tyrannical monarchs. Since the above named nations are devoted to Islam, they probably support the goal of IS, but would like to avoid being its victims. King Abdullah conveniently forgot to mention that the official religion of his nation, the Wahabbi (Salafi) form of Sunni Islam, is the ideological force behind IS, al-Qaeda, and other jihadists worldwide. What they really want is a kinder, gentler IS, chastened by limited American force, that will share power with the existing entrenched monarchs and dictators. Second, the above-named nations have grown comfortable from the proceeds of the oilfields, and desire the Europeans and dumb Yankees to do their fighting for them in order to protect their delicate sensibilities. In this way the Saudis and other Moslem nations can share in the global expansion of radical Islam with its attendant wealth, power, and underage girls without giving even the appearance of opposition to their Moslem brethren. We shall see if Mr. Obama will take the bait.
[1] “Saudi king warns West will jihadists next target”, 30 Aug 14, https://news.yahoo.com/saudi-king-warns-west-jihadists-next-target-093701543.html
Tags: Foreign Policy
