Here We Go Again: U.S. Consider Military Action In Iraq

Some of the areas affected by the fighting

“I don’t rule out anything because we do have a state in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in either Iraq or Syria. In our consultations with the Iraqis, there will be some short-term immediate things that need to be done militarily.”-President Obama

ISIS, also known as  ISIL want to create a caliphate, a Sunni state, in the border region of Iraq and Syria. Led by Abu Bakr al Baghdadi their intent is to oust Shia Muslims from the areas they see as important to their struggle.

Jeremy Bowen, Middle East editor for the BBC said:

If ISIS can hold Mosul and consolidate its presence there it will have taken a giant step towards its goal of creating an Islamist emirate that straddles Iraq and Syria.

It would be the most significant act by a jihadist group since al-Qaeda attacked the US on 11 September 2001. It could also lead to other changes on the borders Britain and France imposed on the Middle East a century ago, starting with break-up of Iraq on sectarian lines.

The success of ISIS can only make the turmoil in the Middle East worse. ISIS is an ultra extremist Sunni Muslim group. Its success will deepen the sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shias that is already the most dangerous fault line in the Middle East.

Iran, which is a majority Shia Muslim country, shares a border with Iraq. It has a direct line to Iraq’s Shia Muslim prime minister, Nouri Maliki, and close links with some Iraqi Shia militias. The Iranians could direct their proxies, and even their own special forces units, at ISIS.

That might end up further inflaming the anger of Iraqi Sunnis, which have already helped the advance of ISIS through Iraq.

US air strikes, if they happen, might do the same thing. Once again in the Middle East, the Americans have limited options.

Iraqi Prime Minister  Nouri al-Maliki applied to parliament for extra powers to deal with the uprising but the vote has been delayed because only 128 ministers turned up out of a possible 328.