Abu Bakr al-Baghdi, Militant or Madman
If only a fraction of the tales of horrors coming out of Iraq can be confirmed, the world has another madman on its hands. Not since Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, have the international community witnessed a crazed killer taking the violence of warfare beyond the realm of sanity. Marching across the Middle East like a pack of monstrous wolves, savaging and subjugating all they encounter, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his ISIS crew have managed to horrify nearly every player in the region.
Denounced by Al Qaeda, despised by the Syrians, dreaded by Iraq, distrusted by every moderate and disgusted by the entire world, Abu Bakr al-Baghdi is publicly reveling in becoming World Enemy No. 1. Loaded with cash weapons and growing support, the world's newest nemesis has demonstrated without a doubt, he has the means to expand his reach. This should frighten the hell out Western nations currently focused on Russia.
Still, all may not be lost if, a swift, creative and united response can be mounted through dynamic international leadership. The White House has been presented with a golden opportunity to reach out to Iran and Syria to coordinate efforts to slow ISIS's momentum. If a diplomatic truce can be secured between regional rivals for the sole purpose of confronting a common threat, it could provide a ray of hope for talks on a broader range of issues. Remember, Turkey, the Kurds, Jordan, Lebanon and yes, even Hezbollah has an interest in eradicating ISIS.
Since the United States can't place boots on the ground, Iran can work with Iraqi Shiite militias, while gathering actionable intel for air assaults by U.S. air power. Iran can be trusted to provide accurate intelligence, as they have a vested interest in a stable Iraq and no love for the ISIS. Iran is also anxious to rejoin the world community.
Syria's Bashar al-Assad has a role to play too. Bitching and complaining for years that his country was being overrun by militant maniacs, Western powers dismissed his claims as a distraction to Bashar al-Assad's brutal prosecution of his civil war. Syria can be trusted to assist, as its been long confirmed, ISIS were the militant maniacs he was bitching about.
Once again, since the United States can't put boots on the ground, if Western powers would just lower its demands for Bashar al-Assad's immediate and unconditional departure through some "transitional government scheme" and encourage the rebel opposition to put aside its differences long enough to rid Syria of ISIS, the region might have a slim chance to catch its collective breath.
While in the final analysis, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a creation Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki's arrogance, it must not be forgotten, Iraq's Nouri al-Malki was a creation of the United States' arrogance.
Bottom line: Should the West revisit Iraq? You don't have a choice! Are these proposals radical?, Yes! Unconventional? Absolutely! Controversial? Without question! Could this be the last chance to cauterize the hemorrhaging? You better believe it! Will President Obama be provided with better options and or advice from his national security team or State Department? Hell No!
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