The End...?
Ever since 9/11, America has always had a focus on the Middle East. Soon after that horrific event that killed 2,977 and injured over 6,000, America invaded Iraq and set in motion one of the most controversial invasions of the 21st century. A few years turned into over a decade, with the death count of not only those in the Middle East rising, but also the America soldiers. The publics support for the invasion started to waver as reports of cruel and unusual punishment circulated. The threat of Al-Qaeda shifted to the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIS.
After years of bloody violence, the American forces alongside the Kurdish Syrians and the Russians helped to repel the forces of ISIS and since their removal from Aleppo and Baghuz, Syria in 2019, ISIS has been seemingly dormant, launching only a few small scale terror attacks.
After the threat of ISIS diminished, President Trump vowed as a campaign promise to pull all American forces out of Syria before the 2020 election. Yet, a new conflict has the American public divided on that decision.
The Turkish military forces invaded Kurdish controlled Syria on last Friday continuing a feud that originates during World War I. Being a mostly Muslim ethnic group, the Western Powers promised the Kurds a swath of land to settle. Yet, instead of working with other Middle Eastern governments, the West spread the Kurds all throughout Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. The Turkish and the Kurdish have had various conflicts ranging from 1978 until, finally, their invasion into the Kurdish controlled Syria.
Now, there's always the question on why America should care. As previously mentioned, the Kurdish military allowed the US to repel the forces of ISIS. America and the Kurds worked closely to ensure that many of the ISIS rebels were detained. These 11,000 ISIS rebels are in the Kurdish controlled area in Syria that the Turkish are currently invading.
The debate that the Charlie Savage's article brings up is that: "The presence of American troops alongside the Kurds had helped to maintain a fragile peace. But after Mr. Trump told Turkey that it could begin an operation into Syria and that the United States would pull its forces back from a zone along the border, Turkey and an Arab Syrian militia have killed many Kurds — and may have deliberately fired near American forces, too" (Click here for article). America has always tried to back their allies in times of crisis and if they pull out their forces, what kind of image does that send to the world?
Savage then goes on to then make note that only two of the most dangerous ISIS prisoners have been extradited to be investigated and tried. He also notes that there's no knowing what will happen to the other thousands of former ISIS members still under Kurdish control after the invasion of Turkey.
A few questions to ponder: Should America abandon its ally in their moment of need? If America does decide to stay, at what point do they cut their military ties from the Middle East?
After years of bloody violence, the American forces alongside the Kurdish Syrians and the Russians helped to repel the forces of ISIS and since their removal from Aleppo and Baghuz, Syria in 2019, ISIS has been seemingly dormant, launching only a few small scale terror attacks.After the threat of ISIS diminished, President Trump vowed as a campaign promise to pull all American forces out of Syria before the 2020 election. Yet, a new conflict has the American public divided on that decision.
The Turkish military forces invaded Kurdish controlled Syria on last Friday continuing a feud that originates during World War I. Being a mostly Muslim ethnic group, the Western Powers promised the Kurds a swath of land to settle. Yet, instead of working with other Middle Eastern governments, the West spread the Kurds all throughout Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. The Turkish and the Kurdish have had various conflicts ranging from 1978 until, finally, their invasion into the Kurdish controlled Syria.
Now, there's always the question on why America should care. As previously mentioned, the Kurdish military allowed the US to repel the forces of ISIS. America and the Kurds worked closely to ensure that many of the ISIS rebels were detained. These 11,000 ISIS rebels are in the Kurdish controlled area in Syria that the Turkish are currently invading.
The debate that the Charlie Savage's article brings up is that: "The presence of American troops alongside the Kurds had helped to maintain a fragile peace. But after Mr. Trump told Turkey that it could begin an operation into Syria and that the United States would pull its forces back from a zone along the border, Turkey and an Arab Syrian militia have killed many Kurds — and may have deliberately fired near American forces, too" (Click here for article). America has always tried to back their allies in times of crisis and if they pull out their forces, what kind of image does that send to the world?Savage then goes on to then make note that only two of the most dangerous ISIS prisoners have been extradited to be investigated and tried. He also notes that there's no knowing what will happen to the other thousands of former ISIS members still under Kurdish control after the invasion of Turkey.
A few questions to ponder: Should America abandon its ally in their moment of need? If America does decide to stay, at what point do they cut their military ties from the Middle East?
From Eric:I think that if we abandon an ally, then they are no longer our ally. Also, I think the US should only pull out troops if the situation is solved, or if a another country takes responsibility to store peace.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Cooper! This is a complicated issue and you offer a nice overview.
ReplyDeleteAnd I believe we should support our Kurdish allies because it will be difficult to forge relationships with allies in the future if they know we'll abandon them.