Obama Considers Military Options in Iraq

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Three years after removing the American presence in Iraq, the country tucked between Iran and Syria is under attack by al-Qaeda associated jihadists who are more radical, and brutal, than groups we have seen in the Middle Easter theater before.  President Barack Obama has promised not to return ground troops to the region, but says he has kept other military options on the table.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has their forces advancing on Baghdad, and Shiite clerics are vowing to war against them.  The ISIS militants, whose goal it is to create a new Islamic State across parts of Syria and Iraq, are only 60 miles away from Baghdad, and during the chaos, other groups like the Kurds are taking advantage of the conflict and are attacking other areas like Kirkuk.

President Obama, as U.S. military warships sit off the coast of Iraq in the Persian Gulf, has stated that the United States will not use military options unless the Iraq leadership shows they are willing to work with American forces.  The Iraqi government, however, is calling for the formation of Shiite militias.

An al-Qaeda connected army is on the move, using all of the tactics of brutality to overtake what our troops during the Iraq worked so hard to pacify.  Other militant groups are joining the fight, increasing the size and scope of ISIS as it sweeps across the countryside.  And during all of this, the ISIS leadership claims they also plan to hit external targets, in Europe, and the United States.

President Obama has stated that if we get involved, we are taking one side in a civil war, therefore it would be wrong to insert American involvement.  The idea that this is a Sunni versus Shia civil war is in error.  This is not a civil war.  This is an invasion by an al-Qaeda inspired group with ties to the terrorist organization, working to take over Iraq, and send their spies and warriors to other countries to wreak the havoc of terrorism around the world.

Air Strikes would prevent this group from reaching its safe-haven, domination of the region, and the creation of the caliphate they aim to form.  If we don't stop this now, it will lead to another 9/11 style attack.  No pressure on this group will embolden the terrorists, and take this collapse of Iraq to a whole new level.  Limited air strikes, as Obama used in Libya, would actually worsen the situation.  What is need is a precise, decisive strike that stops the advancement of ISIS.

A rising al-Qaeda threat in control of Iraq, populated by seasoned combat terrorists that are more radical than the followers of Osama bin Ladin ever was, is a direct threat to the rest of the world.  Stop it now, or we will face terrorism on our own shores later.  It would be a failure of U.S. leadership to not respond in Iraq, be it by an American military strike, or with an allied force including Arab nations also concerned about what is going on in Iraq.

Fear is the weapon by ISIS, and without a response to them, that fear will become crippling to the locals in Iraq.  A sustained campaign against al-Qaeda and ISIS is indeed our fight.  Indecision caused this, and indecision will lead to Western targets in the near future.  We have to use military action to stop the onslaught, or we will pay the price later.

This is a nightmare scenario we saw coming if the U.S. exited Iraq as Obama planned.  Foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq are threat to us, and our absence has allowed this to transpire.

The worst part of it all is not only is Obama's deer-in-the-headlights position on this placing our own interests both in the region, and in the homeland, in great danger, but like usual the Obama administration is acting as if this was a complete surprise.  They never expected this to happen.

It seems to be their excuse that we have a president that doesn't know jack, and has no clue on what to do.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Clueless: Obama freed ISIS leader and is now surprised at the sudden rise of the CalipHate - The Muslim Issue Worldwide

Iraq Crisis: ISIS battles for Baghdad - U.K. Telegraph

U.S. Won't Intervene in Iraq in Absence of Political Reform by Iraqis, Obama says - Washington Post

Obama weighs direct action against insurgents in Iraq - Los Angeles Times