The growing threat of ISIL

 

 

"Silence like a cancer grows..."

One of the few things I agree with POTUS on is what to call this new group of terrorists in the Middle East. Some call them ISIS and others call them ISIL. I believe the correct name is ISIL as the "L" stands for Levant. In ISIS, the second "S" stands for Syria. This terror group has their eyes on the ancient territory of Levant, of which Syria is only a part. However what we have seen as of late, is ISIL has their eyes on territories far beyond Levant.

What has been the most amazing to me has not been the speed of how fast this group has grown, nor the extent of it's butchery - it has been the deafening silence of the world in response to it. For many, it is the "head in the sand" posture which was shown in the 1930's when the evil of fascism first started to show it's ugly face. Today, the United Nations is mute and the United States has only been tinkering on the margins. Meanwhile, innocents in regions who are threatened by ISIL, are looking for real help - help right now.

Today it was reported that terror cells inside of Egypt want to join ISIL. It was also reported that elements of this terror group had infiltrated the Egyptian government. More and more violence is now showing up in the Egyptian homeland. Pakistan is also on the radar for ISIL. The same story reports that ISIL has made some inroads within that country. What does that mean? Two countries, one which borders the southern flank of Israel and the other which is a nuclear power, are in ISIL's sights. This portends bad things for an already troubled region.

Last weekend a pundit was asked on one of the news shows what our posture should be with ISIL. The response was quick and to the point. "We are a super power, right? The key words are 'super' and 'power'. We need to exercise the Powell Doctrine. We need to go in with overwhelming force and eliminate this threat. We have the power to do it, but obviously not the will."

Just prior to World War II, by the time the world realized the Nazi threat, it was almost too late. Like a cancer, it had grown. The groupthink was, "If we just ignore it, it will go away." Appeasement and tolerance. That did not work then, and it will not work now. Right now, the only people who are willing to "stand in the gap" with ISIL are the Kurds. Outnumbered, and out gunned. As brave as the Kurds are, we need to be the ones who will save the day. We know how to do it. Our military has the training. It is just our leaders who do not.