A Proposal for the US’s Policy toward ISIS

From my perspective, ISIS should be eliminated for the peace and safety of the world. But this doesn’t mean that we should attack violence by violence. The best way is to concentrate on the democratic construction in the Middle East and the Islamic World and eliminate their misunderstandings towards the West. Their hate and misunderstandings are the basis of the terrorism in this region. The US should kill high-level members of ISIS and give other members, especially young volunteers an opportunity to choose their lives. The root of the global terrorism lies in the human right problem and the inequality. To fully eliminate terrorism, there should be a long-term plan building democratic governments in these regions.

ISIS was originally founded in 2003 due to the influence of the Iraqi War, a terrorist organization aiming at launching terrorist attacks in Iraqi to overthrow the government and establish a new terrorist regime. It combined small terrorist organizations and organized suicide attacks in response to the invasion of US-led multi-national force. In 2004, this organization continued its terrorist attacks in Iraqi as the branch of Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network in Iraqi. Working with Al-Qaeda, this organization planned to expel US forces from Iraqi and establish a new Islamic authority (Thompson “The anatomy”). According to a study from the US intelligence agency in 2007, the ISIS “planned to seize power in the central and western areas of Iraq and turn it into a Sunni caliphate” (Ricks “Situation”). With the surge of troops, the US took a harsh attitude in eliminating the terrorism in this region and succeeded in capturing or killing dozens of high-level members of this organization. In 2011, the US troops killed Bin Laden and gave ISIS a heavy hit. But ISIS still insisted on its terrorist target and claimed fidelity to the new leader of Al-Qaeda. As the US troops started to retreat from Iraqi in 2011, the ISIS grew fast and increased its terrorist influence with the start of the Syrian Civil War. In 2013, the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda worked with Syrian opposition power and declared the establishment of ISIS. In 2015, ISIS broadened its terrorist influence by launching a series of terrorist attacks around the world, like in France. These attacks made the Syrian Civil War more complex and the refugee problem more sensitive.

It is not a wise option to ignore the ISIS problem and leave it to the Iraqi army. The Iraqi army is not strong and sufficient enough to maintain the peace of the country. And ISIS is originated from Iraqi and has its influence in that region. Sunnis founded this organization to fight against its margination by Iraqi and Syria. If this problem is left to the Iraqi army, there might be another Iraqi Civil War shortly. In addition, it is also not wise to increase the US military presence to ensure stability and a peaceful transfer of power. The previous experience in the Iraqi War shows that the presence of the US military could make a temporary effect suppress terrorism. However, after the US military retreats, the terrorism will start over again and grow fast. And the suppression by military force will only increase the local instability and local people’s hate towards the US. Also, it is a huge financial and military burden for the US.

In my opinion, the US should use part of its military force to assist the Iraqi army in the stability. The security problem is, by essence, the domestic problem of the Iraqi government. Too many interventions will only lead to misunderstandings of the US trying to colonize Iraqi with a puppet government. Also, non-Western Muslims countries could also join in this assistance to provide regional security. The final purpose is to boost the democracy and equality in this region and eliminate any hate that could turn to terrorism. Too many violent measures will only make the situation worse and promote terrorism. The best way is to increasing mutual understandings and advocating for peace.