Back in September, President Barack Obama stood in the White House and announced that America will “degrade and destroy ISIS”.
Five months on, his strategy has come under fire. Former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, on NBC’s Meet the Press last Sunday claimed the US has set itself “unrealistic goals”, and called for a new strategy to combat ISIS.
The Observer recently provided a perfect example of what Gates meant, with a special report from the Syrian city of Kobani – recently liberated of the savage group.
Late last year, ISIS fighters began their siege of Kobani – relentlessly slaughtering anyone in their way. Despite efforts from Kurdish fighters to halt their advance, the group eventually captured the city which borders Turkey.
In response, America provided Kurdish fighters with support through relentless airstrikes on ISIS fighters in Kobani – at some points pummelling the city with over twenty air strikes in a single day. Whilst the conflict did last several months, Kurdish forces are now celebrating as ISIS has been driven out – costing the terrorist group over 1,000 fighters during the conflict.
As Emma Harrison reported in The Observer, this victory has also come at a huge cost to the besieged city. Harrison – who arrived just after the conflict ended – describes the abysmal state she encountered:
“Everywhere there are bullet and shell casings, the twisted metal of spent mortar rounds and, often, the alarming outline of an unexploded shell.”
Kobani could take over a decade to rebuild, and let’s remember that this is a city fortunate enough to be right on the border with Turkey – the only safe passage for aid and humanitarian workers to come through. And although ISIS is no longer in the city, it’s only been driven just a few kilometres away – and still remains a huge threat.
It’s highly doubtful whether the tactic of pummelling an area with bombs until nothing is left is effective in fighting ISIS. The trail of destruction left behind is not something to be played down.
Take the issue of unexploded bombs which residents of Kobani now face. As Harrison outlined, an estimated 500 people per year are being killed in Laos by unexploded bombs left by American fighter jets, fifty years on from a secret CIA campaign during the Vietnam War.
So what should now be done? That’s the question that needs carefully considered, but at the same time must take into account the immediate need for action.
Recently the UK’s Commons defence committee produced a scathing report, accusing Britain of failing to pull its weight, even questioning whether “such a policy exists” in fighting the extremist group.
America in contrast has sent over 2,000 troops to Iraq. President Obama is also seeking Congressional approval in extending his war powers to fight in both Iraq and Syria. Whilst it’s undoubtable that Western troops could supress ISIS, and take back the huge territory it controls in Iraq, and also Syria, the question still remains; what should be done?
Once Western troops leave, what’s to stop extremism spreading again? Any long term strategy in eradicating extremism across the Middle East simply has to involve the cooperation of other Middle Eastern governments.
Many of the regimes in the Middle East are seen as brutal. But, for the sake of wiping out a monstrosity like ISIS permanently, and creating lasting stability – both militarily and politically, the West simply can’t fight alone.
