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Kevin Martinez
Mr. Okamato & Mrs. Burnett
AP Gov. & English12A
Per.1 &5
11/24/2014
Collaboration against a Common Foe
The belligerent group ISIL has spread indignation across the globe with mass killings,
public slaughters, and bombing of entire cities. The meager stability in the neighboring countries
like Syria has prompted western intervention with limited warfare by sending militaristic and
medical support. President Obama is hesitant in sending direct intervention, instead the U.S has
created a militarist coalition with twenty other nations to dissipate ISIL by leaving no safe
haven (Obama) for the belligerent terrorist group. The range of ISIL is currently covering a
large territory in Syria and Iraq, threatening neighboring countries like Iran, Turkey, and Jordan
with future expansion. Combat in war torn cities like Kobani have raised questions on the
effectiveness of U.S led airstrikes against the belligerents and debates over whether or not direct
intervention can be viable option is amassing support by the American people. The tug a war for
Kobani has also drawn attention towards Turkeys neutral stance and limited refusal to aid
Kobani directly. Similar issues like in Syria have fostered American support for direct
intervention, but President Obama does not want to be thrown into yet another war. Although a
U.S led coalition with other countries have used limited warfare in the form of airstrikes to
dissolve ISIL, it has proven narrow and ineffective in decreasing the amount of safe haven for
the belligerents. Direct intervention by the U.S and supporting countries can effectively topple

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the terrorist group, in a shorter amount of time, juxtaposed to limited air strikes that will only
carry over into the next presidency.
The truculent motives of ISIL, derives from an extolled desire for the creation of a single
unified state under a radical Islamic Law. In the article, What is Islamic State BBC highlights
the origin of ISIL, through key events and figures of heinous acts like, beheadings,
crucifixions, and mass killings that strike fear into the Middle Eastern population. The
belligerency of this terrorist group has prompted power houses like the U.S to intervene in this
humanitarian issue. The article elucidates the leader of the belligerent group to be Abu Bakr alBaghdad, who is currently leading the destruction of international borders in the Middle East and
indirectly threatening neighboring countries like Jordan and Iraq. The proclamation of ISIL was
ironically rejected by the Sunti Arab tribesman because of the groups brutality and radical
ideologies. In 2014, Baghadai proclaimed the creation of ISIL as a detachment from al- Queda
and sparked the expansion for the creation of the Islamic state, beginning with the northern city
of Mosil and sectors in Baghdad. This expansion inevitably lead to clashes with diverging
ideologies in which western hostages are currently being used to fuel ISILs propaganda machine
to ward off foreign intervention from western countries. According to the CNN article, British
Journalist, now ISIS hostage sends message from terror group Atika Shubert, accentuates on the
indignation that captives like, British journalist John Cantlie experience on ISILs propaganda
machine. Cantlies last statements were aimed towards elucidating the wrong doings of Britain
by saying, Ive been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of the
Islamic state, I have nothing to lose.A handful of captives have already been killed in the hands
of ISIL, and their deaths serve as a stain on foreign governments actions on intervening with the
Middle East.

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Americans intervention in stopping ISIL arose from umbrage on American lives and
interests. In the New York Times article, Before Killing James Foley, ISIS Demanded Ransom
from U.S Rukimini Callimachi depicts the complicity of hostage affairs reflecting on nations
standpoint. The typical hostage situation circumvents around the indication of a monetary value,
but ISIL being a belligerent terrorist group, strayed away from large cash payments and have
captured three other hostages after the murder of American Journalist James Foley. U.S
Operations were conducted as a reaction, to rescue American captives with no success but
President Obama stated, The United States would not retreat until it had eliminated the cancer
of ISIS from the Middle East. The malevolent conditions that hostages face under ISIL are
inimical. According to a CNN article, New York Times: ISIS hostages were tortured before
beheadings (2014) Joshua Berlinger, states that the conditions of hostages by interviewing
released prisoners who proclaimed that, ISIS captives were threatened with execution, tortured
and starved ahead of their beheadings. The deaths of innocent hostages carry weight on western
nations by classifying intervention as form of retaliation. The extreme radical behaviors of this
belligerent group have been one the reasons the U.S is participating in limited warfare.
Civilian death tolls sprang up extravagantly in the years after the creation ISIL.
According to a UN Assistance Mission to Iraq, highlighted death tolls were at an inextricable
high of over seventeen thousand fatalities directly linked to ISIL attacks. America, being an
arbitrator on global affairs has accosted the issue of ISIL with military aid, with the consent of
congress. In the New York Times article, Obama Must Get Congresss Backing for the Fight
Against ISIS Tim Kaine states, that system of division of powers within our nation insures that
the executive branch cant alone wage war without the consent of congress. Congressional
attendance is crucial serving as a mediator that weighs the consequences of war. Counter

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measures against ISIL have been passed by congress in the form of airstrikes and proxy war
tactics to insure the lives of Americans and western ideals.
ISILs expansions into cities like Kobani, for the creation of an Islamic State; have
brought truculent warfare into major cities. In the CNN article, ISIS forces multiple attacks on
Kurdish territory in Iraq, officials say Brain Walker asserts that ISILs strategic expansion into
northern Iraq and Syrian territory have devastated entire towns for the creation of an Islamic
State. In the Syrian city of Kobani, outside of Turkeys border, defenders are at a tug of war with
the city with ISIL, were any aid from the U.S is crucial on Kobanis future as a city. Although
defenders control some 70% of the city, Kobani is cut off and ISIS forces continue to shell it
with mortars from the east and south which asserts that intervention from the U.S has been
vividly crucial in the war torn city. In the Los Angeles Times article, U.S-led Coalition boosts
airstrikes on Islamic State in Kobani, Syria Patrick Mcdonnell, and Glen Johnson define the
importance of western aid in Kobani since Kobani is about to fall according to President Recep
Tayyip of Erdogan. U.S-led coalitions on airstrikes have proven decisive in defending the city on
the brink of collapse. The status of Kobani fluctuates daily but resistance moral is at an all time
high with statements like, We will resist.. We will not leave Kobani and will not give up.
Although fighter moral is high, a lack of experienced soldiers that can be provided with direct
intervention is missing. The persistence of the resistance fighters diverge from the thousands of
civilians who sought refuge with the coming of the belligerents. The Los Angeles Times article,
Syrian Kurds in Turkey watch militant onslaught across border Bulos and Mcdonell elucidate
the massive migration of refugees into neighboring countries like Turkey and Jordan, in hopes to
escape the destruction. Some refugees even witness the onslaught of Kobani from the Turkish

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border, vividly seeing the plums of black smoke engulfing their city. Furthermore, ISIL has
proven to be a truculent issue that desires impactful intervention from foreign countries.
Turkeys neutral standpoint on the city of Kobani has debased hopes for militaristic
support in combating ISIL. According to a BBC article, Syria: The Story of the Conflict David
Gritten, Lucy Rodgers and James Offer and Patrick Asare depict the atrocities of the civil unrest
in Syria against Preident Assads militaristic action towards his people, which caused 14,000
deaths and a militaristic rebellion that classifying both government and its people under charges
of war crimes. The vulnerability of Syria has caused a massive migration of 6.5 billion refugees
to seek safe haven in neighboring countries. The instability in Syria has prompted a U.S led
coalition to militaristically provide aid against ISIL. According to a Los Angeles Times article,
5 Arab nations support U.S in strikes inside Syria David Cloud states ,that the presence of a
collaboration of Arab nations plus the U.S in aerial strikes have shown a positive difference in
decreasing the amount of safe haven for ISIL. This form of limited warfare is effective but
limited towards a specific parcel of targets, juxtaposed to strategic militaristic positing of troops
in combat. In the CNN article, More than 800 killed in 40 days of clashes in Syrian city of
Kobani Nick Walsh and Narrayan Bilinginsoy state, those due to the constant bloodshed on
both sides, a total of 800 deaths have occurred over the duration of forty days. This surge of
deaths in the region due to ISIL intervention is leaving a colossal stain on the U.S as an arbitrator
of the world on taking militastic action to secure American interests and lives of captives. Prince
Turki bin faisal al Saud, former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States expressed a
solution to the crisis in Syria and ISIL, at the World Affairs council in Los Angeles. I personally
interviewed Prince Turki bin faisal on his opinion as Arab leader on what could be done in
Kobani to liberate the city as whole. He replied that American intervention is crucial in

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determining the near future of cities like Kobani, but does little to insure a stable government
that prevents events like ISIL from ever happening again. Prince Turki stated that a no fly zone
along with direct intervention, followed by western presence to insure a stable future is the only
way to deal with the crisis in Syria.
Americas role in a U.S led coalition has unacceptable flaws. The U.S chose the path of
aerial strikes to defend American lives and interests by limiting the amount of safe haven for
ISIS. In the CNN article, Officials: U.S airstrikes pound ISIS militants firing at Iraqs Yazidis
Chelsea Carter, Mohammed Tawfeeq, and Barbara Starr depict the the series of airstrikes began
with a mix of fighter jets and drones that targeted militants are successful in decreasing the
expansion of ISIL, but airstrikes have proven to be limited and specific to an area, which leads to
the Pentagon disclosing any information of death tolls. When U.S bombers executed a mission in
the proximity of Makmur, where ISIL militants have been spotted, the U.S declined to reveal any
information on the success of the run. The U.S also is main contributor in sending militastic and
medical supplies in the form care packages into struggling cities. According to the NBC article,
ISIS: Weve Got the Weapons U.S. Meant to Kill Us With Ghazi Balkiz, and Vinograd Kube
accentuate that a supply run by the U.S mean for Kurdish combatants blew off course into ISIL
territory. The care package held several medical supplies and weapons for Kobani. ISIS viewed
this scenario as a failure of the U.S national government by accentuating the event through
ISILs propaganda machine. This crisis wouldnt have been an issue unless there was appropriate
number of troops on the ground to secure drop ins of medical supplies. Furthermore, the number
of airstrikes under U.S command have proven limited in decreasing the amount of safe haven
over a large terrain is about to go over the $1 billion mark. In a New Republic article, The War
against the Islamic state is about to hit $1 Billion Jessica Schulberg, depicts the positive

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correlation between the amount of airstrike and price have risen extravagantly since its start. The
cost of limited warfare is rising but there isnt a sense of certainty behind the funding of these
missions. Although this apparitional portrayal of success from aerial strikes have shown limited
success, some progresses in cities like Kobani have proven effective.
Limited warfare has proven effective to certain extent with the change of Turkeys
neutrality. According to a New York Times article, Turkey to Let Iraqi Kurds Cross to Syria to
Fight ISIS Kareem Fahim, and Shoulamli Karam elucidated a shift in Turkeys neutrality
against ISIL conflicts, by sending, Iraqi Kurdish forces, and known as pesh merga, to cross its
border with Syria to help fight militants from the group called the Islamic State... This shift
alongside American aerial support has proven to be extravagantly effective in retaking large
amounts in Kobani. If the U.S toke similar actions like Turkey, there would be instant physical
change in the amount of territory ISIL currently claims. Furthermore the presence of troops in
combat ridden cities from Turkey have shown positive change in combat, as seen in a Wall Street
Journal article, Syria-Turkey Border Heats up as Iraqi Kurds Approach Kobani Ayala
Alabyrak and Empre Peker portray the physical shift on ISIL plans in Kobani that has
completely altered the battle for the belligerents. ISIL has reacted negatively to the introducing
of Iraqi-Kurdish fighters, we hear the jihadists conversations on their walkie-talkies and their
commanders are pushing the fighters to be more assertive which complexly shows amoral
debasement of ISIL and progress of the rebellion. Furthermore, if the U.S matched the tenacity
of Turkey, a coalition of troops would dissipate distinguish ISIL in shorter period of time.
Direct interventions from the U.S and other nations like Turkey, have to be implemented
to insure the safety of American lives and interests. According to New York Times article,
Destroying ISIS May Take Years, U.S officials say Schmitt Eric and Cooper Gordon argue

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that the ongoing militastic campaign against ISIS is predicted to outlive President Obamas
presidency by taking three years. The U.S has a militastic plan, divided into three phases, phase
one is already underway by limiting the tactical procedures of ISIL with U.S lead airstrikes. The
second phase involves training Kurdish fighters for the duration of a year to combat ISIL. The
last phase would determine the existence of ISIL with a combination of the previous phases. This
militastic campaign is long and ineffective and would prolong direct and immediate alternative
like sending troops to dissipate ISIL. John Kerry also agrees that the process of Americas
militastic campaign is long and wouldnt provide magnanimous outcomes right away. In the
CNN article, John Kerry: The Fight Against ISIS is is going to go on Leigh Coldwell
portrays the words of Kerry to debase the militastic plan of the U.S, with Kerrys statement, you
and others should not be looking for some massive retreat in the next week It is clear that the
issue with ISIL is going to carry out extravagantly as did the war in Iraq but, the difference is we
are not fighting this war alone. President Obama recently signed off executively on sending a
fixed number of troops to Iraq to aid Kurdish fighters. According to the article, Dempsey: US
troops could fight alongside Iraq forces in war against ISIS by FOX Politics Associate Press
state that President Obama has recently appealed to congress on the expansion, for another $5.6
billion to expand the U.S mission in Iraq and send up to 1,500 more American troops to the wartorn nation this appeal would add on to the limited number of troops to 3,100 and would serve
as driving force for militastic aid in dissipated countries. The possibility of American troops
fighting alongside Kurdish fighters is clear, but the chance of U.S troops fighting alone is not an
option. A coalition between Arab countries like Turkey on sending militastic aid secures the war
as a unified front to destroy ISIL. With the sending of Iraqi Kurdish fighters from Turkey to

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Syria is just one example of the collaboration between nations on combating ISIL together.
Furthermore, the U.S population is in support on the process of sending troops to combat ISIS.
Public opinion regarding ISIL on sending troops is, at a majority support of Obama
militastic plan on sending an additional number of troops in war torn cities. According to an
MSNBC article, Poll: Americans want boots on the ground against ISIS Mark Murray depicts a
poll conducted by Wall Street Journal that shows a general trend of support from Americans to
send boots to combat ISIL. A majority 41% accentuate that it is vital to send troops, juxtaposed
to 35% who believe restricted warfare in the form of airstrikes is already effective enough. In
addition there seems to be a general trend of support on sending troops, despite of political
affiliation or preference. In a Statista graph by Niall McCarthy Most Americans Support
Military Action Against ISIS (2014) describes national agreement of sending troops to combat
ISIL despite of political affiliations. Typically political parties tend to diverge in militastic
motives, but there appears to be 64 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of Democrats support
the military effort against ISIS

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Many Americans are disagreeing with the militastic campaign lead by President Obama.
According to the MSNBC article, Leon Panetta Criticizes Obama, calls for some boots on the
ground Richinick Michele, a former member of Obamas administration, openly criticized
Obamas foreign influence in the Middle East by disagreeing with the actions President Obamas
under taking in Syria and Iraq by stating, I think Obamas hope was somehow this thing would
all go in the right direction. But the fact was unless we had the presence there, we would lose the
leverage on Maliki to keep them in the right place. In addition I interview Terry McCarthy a
figure head in the Los Angeles World Affairs Council about his opinion on whether or not
sending troops to combat ISIL is an option. He responded that the U.S should have enough
influence alongside a U.S led coalition to dissipate ISIL, but instead of solving the problem and
leaving. A strong and stable government is vital in securing future belligerent issues occurring
again.
Finally, The U.S is currently balanced on limited militastic intervention campaign against
ISIL, which has proven to be ineffective in aiding worn torn cities in the region. The U.S needs
to send direct militastic aid in the form of troops and supplies alongside an already set coalition
between other nations for a unified war against ISIL. The cost of war is rising sharply with
expansion of a limited militaristic plan, but by implanting troops in Iraq and Syria the amount of
war time would decrease extravagantly, juxtaposed to a military campaign that would stretch into
the next presidency. The act of sending troops would not poise as a radical change with our
nation, since a majority of U.S citizens support the idea of having boots on the ground in Iraq
and Syria. America needs to change its militastic position to a unified direct assault, to
distinguish the belligerent group and secure American lives and interests in the Middle East.

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Works Cited
Albayrak, Ayla, Empre, Peker, Syria-Turkey Border Heats Up as Iraqi Kurds Approach
Kobani Wall Street Journal Web 11 November 2014.
<http://online.wsj.com/articles/iraqi-kurdish-forces-enter-turkey-on-way-to-fight-islamic-statein-syria-1414584247>
Balkiz, Ghazi, Vinograd, Kube, ISIS: Weve Got the Weapons U.S Meant to Kill Us With NBC
News 21 October 2014 Web. 22 October 2014
< http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/isis-weve-got-weapons-u-s-meant-kill-usn230781>
BBC, What is Islamic State? BBC(2014 ) 26 September 2014 Web. 14 October 2014
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29052144>
BBC (Produced) Gritten, David, Rodgers, Lucy and Macguire, Emily, Syria: The Story of the
Conflict BBC 13 March 2014. Web 28 October 2014
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Berlinger, Joshua, New York Times: ISIS hostages were tortured before beheadings CNN
26 October 2014. Web 27 October 2014
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Bulos, Nabih and Mcdonnell, Patrick, Syrian Kurds in Turkey watch militant onslaught across
border Los Angeles Times 1 October 2014 Web. 28 October 2014
< http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-kobani-20141002-story.html.>
Caldwell, Leigh , John Kerry: The fight against ISIS is going to go on Cable News Network
(CNN) 24 September 2014. Web 22 October 2014
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Callimachi, Rukimini Before Killing James Foley, ISIS Demanded Ransom from U.S New
York Times, 20 August 2014. Web. 09 Oct.2014
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/world/middleeast/isis-pressed-for-ransom-before-killingjamesfoley.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A14
%22%7D>

Carter, Chelsea, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Starr Barbara, Officials: U.S. airstrikes pound ISIS militants
firing at Iraqs Yazidis CNN 10 August 2014 Web. 23 October 2014

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<http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/09/world/meast/iraq-crisis/>

Cloud, David, 5 Arab Nations support U.S in strikes inside Syria LA Times
23 September 2014 Web. 30 October 2014
< http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-white-house-allies-syria-isis-20140923-story.html>

Fahim, Kareem, Shoulamli, Karam, Turkey to Let Iraqi Kurds Cross to Syria to Fight ISIS
New York Times 20 October, 2014 . Web 27 October 2014.
< http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/21/world/middleeast/kobani-turkey-kurdish-fighterssyria.html?_r=0
Fox News Dempsey: US troops could fight alongside Iraqi forces in war against ISIS
FoxNews.Com 13 November 2014 Web. 11 November 23 2014
<http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/13/dempsey-us-troops-could-fight-alongside-iraqiforces-in-war-against-isis/
Kaine,Tim, Obama Must Get Congresss Backing for the Fight Against ISIS. New York Times.
15 September 2014. Web 09 Oct. 2014.
< http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/opinion/obama-must-get-congresss-backing-for-thefight-against-isis.html>
McCarthy, Niall Most Americans Support Military Action Against ISIS (chart/article)Statista
19 September 2014 Web. 10 November 2014
<http://www.statista.com/chart/2733/most-americans-support-military-action-against-isis/>
McDonnell, Patrick and Johnson, Glen, U.S-led Coalition boosts airstrikes on Islamic State in
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< http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-kobani-kurdish-forces-20141007story.html#page=1>

Murray, Mark, Poll: Americans want boots on the ground against ISIS MSNBC
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Schmitt, Eric, Gordon, Cooper, Destroying ISIS May Take Years, U.S Officials Say New York
Times 7 September 2014 Web. 20 October 201
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>
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Kobani CNN 26 October 2014. Web 27 October 2014
<http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/26/world/meast/kobani-isis-deaths/>
Interviews with Terry McCarthy and Prince Turki bin Faisal al Saud, the former Saudi Arabian
Ambassador to the United States.