Issues Under Fire: Competing Counterterrorism Coalitions Battle Over ISIS Fight

Issues Under Fire: Competing Counterterrorism Coalitions Battle Over ISIS Fight 

While the Obama administration says the U.S. will accept contributions from anyone willing to assist in the fight against ISIS in Syria, it remains firmly committed to the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the sooner the better. If Russia and Iran want to do the dirty groundwork they are welcomed, but there will be no compromise on Assad's future. As far as the West is concerned, Bahsar al-Assad has no future. 

Unfortunately, it is because the West won't be satisfied until they've succeeded in completing a regime change in Syria, that has given rise to two separate and competing coalitions to confront the growing Islamic menace. With Russia and Iran just as committed to supporting the Assad government as the United States and its Western allies are to bringing his government down, they're building a coalition as a counterbalance to Western efforts.  

The West insist upon positing a narrative that lays the blame for 250 thousand dead Syrians squarely on the head of Bahsar al-Assad, claiming he is the source of the crises. The West says Assad is a magnet for terrorist. The West says as long as Bahsar al-Assad is in power, ISIS and other opportunistic elements will be drawn to the fight. The West says Assad is a murderer of his own people and has long ago lost legitimacy as a leader of his country. The West says, it is because of the aforementioned, that it has granted itself the authorities to do just about anything to dislodge Assad. 

On the other hand, Russia and Iran say Bahsar al-Assad is the most effective force fighting ISIS in the region. The Russian and Iranians say Bahsar al-Assad is at the forefront of the fight against terror and needs the world's support. The Russians and Iranians say it was the CIA that instigated the 2011 protest in Syria that spiraled out of control, opening the door to more violent actors. The Russians and Iranians say Bahsar al-Assad is essential to brining about a political solution and conclusion to the Syrian civil war. But most importantly, the Russians and Iranians say only Syrian can say who their legitimate leader will be. 

After evaluating both arguments, its not difficult for this observer to figure out which coalition has the most legitimacy going forward when considering the international legitimacy of each coalition's mission. The Russian and by extension Iran is proposing a U.N. resolution that'll coordinate all nations opposed to ISIS and other terrorist groups for the sole purpose of expelling them from Syria and by extension Iraq. Since this coalition will have permission to conduct "specific" military operations within the borders of Syria, the Russian inspired coalition will be in compliance with international law. The same can not be said for the current Western mode of operation. 

Bottom line: As the scene is being set, its obvious these two concepts can't operate simultaneously and independently without creating chaos and confusion for all parties involved. At some point, the international community will be forced to make a choice between these two competing coalitions to confront the ISIS threat and it will all come down to who sells their narrative most effectively. Podcast below!