Please consider this bit of rambling: Most Americans have very little understanding of the dynamic relations in the Middle East. However, one would expect our government’s leadership, both civilian and military to be up to speed on what is actually happening in the struggle versus ISIL. However, I see very little of this evidence in the naïve policies being promoted by the administration nor in any of the options fomented by those who would apply an even more forceful approach. Two important aspects of what is happening should be examined by the American public in order to make an informed decision about supporting action versus ISIL. Understand that the term ISIL is more accurate than ISIS as the former refers to Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus, and part of southern Turkey. This should be more eye-opening to the casual observer than including only Iraq and Syria, when considering the ramifications of possible success of ISIL within the region. Let there be no doubt that the first and primary goal of ISIL is to subjugate then entirety of the Middle East and cleanse the Islamic faith of those they consider wavering, faltering in adherence to their fundamental teachings. This is evident in ISIL’s threat to march on across Saudia Arabia Mecca and dismantle the Kaaba, which contains Al-Ħajaru l-Aswad, “the black stone.” Tradition holds that Abraham erected the Kaaba as the first place to worship Allah and one can easily understand the religious significance. ISIL maintains that homage to the Ka’aba and Ħajaru l-Aswad is equivalent to idol worship, and thus forbidden by Islam. One doesn’t see mention of this is mainstream media, but security has been heightened during the Hajj, where ISIL could easily bring violence to bear in pursuit of their goals. Consider that if ISIL threatens the very heart of established Islam, they hold no regard for negotiation whatsoever, therefore the Obama administration’s use of the terms rollback and degrade are typical of six years of consistently demonstrated inept leadership or the intent to duck responsibility for the next two years and pay only lip service to the international community. Until recently, Turkey, a NATO member has maintained a secular government, but recent elections have brought a change and aligned controlling factions with Islam. With this said, many pundits and military advisors on the various news organs have promoted leveraging Turkey’s competent military as the boots on the ground in the region along with the Kurdish population. Let me explain something very clearly. Turkey does not want the Kurds to succeed in any form or fashion. They fear the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in northeastern Syria and northern Iraq. This is a primary reason Turkey blocked the U.S. Army, 1st Armored Division’s planned deployment through southern Turkey into northern Iraq during the invasion of Iraq. Over the years, Turkey has made a habit of undermining NATO alliances as can be seen in the lack of support for repeated requests to assist in operations within the area. Turkey fears a destabilization of their control of traditional Kurdish territories in the south of their nation and are not about to aid them. Turkey is not in a conundrum of any sort as they possess the region’s most formidable military and sit just inside their own borders with Syria and Iraq, allowing Kurds to take the brunt of the punishment, in an a proxy genocide. Not to take away from the more than capable but poorly outfitted Kurds, but ISIL will run up against a wall if they face the heavier NATO ground forces of Turkey. Believing that Turkey will lend substantial support on the ground in Syria and Iraq is as farcical as attempting to leverage Russia’s support versus the Assad regime or ISIL. There is nothing in it for Turkey except the extermination of the Kurds, and Russia is making off with Crimea while the rest of the world is distracted. Please consider my limited insight and inform yourself.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 01:21:07 +0000