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Forum Post: Obama and ISIS By David McReynolds

Posted 9 years ago on Sept. 12, 2014, 8:12 a.m. EST by flip (7101)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

We can all agree that ISIS (or ISL) is a dreadful organization which has committed grievous crimes in Iraq, crimes which extend far beyond the beheading of American journalists to include mass executions of civilians. The problem is that, as always happens in these cases, there is a certain “selective outrage”, a kind of “willed amnesia” about our own role in such matters.

Let me leave aside ancient history such as Vietnam, and, just looking at Iraq, remind ourselves that the US supported Saddam Hussein for a long period of time, including his war against Iran which lasted nine years, during which he used poison gas against the Iranians with no comment from the White House. Or, after the first Gulf War, when Saddam had agreed to the terms of surrender and was withdrawing his troops from Kuwait, our planes machine gunned the retreating troops who, under any possible definition of the terms of surrender, should have had safe passage.

Then, the US encouraged an uprising among the Iraqis against Saddam, but provided no support, and stood by when Saddam slaughtered them by the thousands. Or perhaps to remember the massive loss of civilian lives in Iraq after our inglorious “Shock and Awe” invasion. Or the torture chambers we set up, photographs of which horrified the world.

Not all of the sins of America, taken together, justify the beheading of a single journalist – but memory may help us understand the roots of that horror.

Obama’s speech tonight went out of its way to chide Russia, at precisely the moment we need the help of Russia (and Iran) in dealing with ISIS. He stoked the old fires of the Cold War by reference to the troubles of Ukraine – for which the US is primarily responsible. And, most tragic of all,

Instead of offering some hope of ending the bloodshed in Syria, he is now going to extend further aid to one side in the civil war there, which will prolong and deepen it.

If ISIS is indeed the enemy, then, in Syria, the most natural ally is Assad, brutal as his dictatorship is. Let’s remember the US has relied on Syria before, as an ally against Hussein, and as a convenient place to send suspects we wanted tortured in the most professional way possible.

This may well be, for the Syrians, a choice between Hitler and Stalin, with ISIS playing the role of Hitler.

The roots of ISIS are in part in Syria, where it has been a bitter enemy of Assad, and in large part now in Iraq, where it has made an appeal to the Sunni population. The Sunnis are the minority religion, but, under Saddam Hussein, they ruled Iraq. As a result of the US invasion, the Sunnis were driven from power and the government turned over to the Shiites (which have close ties to Iran). The US-sponsored government in Baghdad used its power to wreck vengeance on the Sunnis, excluding them from any share of power, and, in far too many cases, using control of the State to murder and imprison them.

Now the Sunnis have turned to ISIS for their revenge. And ISIS has used the weapons the US sent to the Iraqi army, which turned and fled, leaving behind their tanks and heavy artillery. The chances are good that more American aid will end in the same way – and the history of this is instructive. In the Chinese Revolution in the last century, Mao’s army equipped itself with the weapons the US sent to the Kuomintang. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh’s army equipped itself with the weapons the US had sent to Saigon.

The one exception in Iraq is the Kurdish area. Contrary to media reports, the Peshmerga broke in their first encounter with ISIS – but they have a real stake in setting up their own territory and there is a good chance that, unlike the Iraqi army, they will stand and fight once they have caught their breath. (I feel guilty, as a pacifist, to even suggest aspects of military strategy and tactics – I am only trying to offer an analysis). It is true that a Kurdish “state” in Iraq will create new problems, but they are the one group that might prove a match for ISIS.

Meanwhile, one has to wonder why American intelligence was caught so totally off guard by ISIS and its sweep into Iraq. Just as our sources failed to alert us to this impending disaster, they may be over-estimating the power of ISIS, which will be subject to internal strains.

Meanwhile, missing entirely from Obama’s speech was any recognition of the dangerous role Saudi Arabia and Qatar have played in creating ISIS. If there is a hidden card in this deck, it is in the military and financial support these states gave to the Islamist forces in Syria – the very forces which evolved into ISIS. It is surely ironic that Obama and his advisers would go out of their way to chide Russia – which might actually be of help in dealing with ISIS – and remain silent on the countries which have played so ominous a role in creating the current problem. (Keep in mind that the funding for Al Queda came in large part from wealthy Saudis).

ISIS, dreadful as it is, is not a threat to the United States. It is part of the civil war which has emerged in Iraq now that the US has withdrawn. Massive bombing campaigns will not solve a problem which has its roots in the internal tensions and religious conflicts in Iraq. For diplomacy to have a chance, the US will need consultation with Iran, just as it needs to avoid deepening the civil conflict in Syria.

Obama’s speech failed to deal with the real problems. He seems unaware that the American Empire has ended, that while, like King Canute, he may command the tide to stop, the tides obey other forces over which the US has no control.

David McReynolds is a former staff member of the War Resisters League, was twice the Socialist Party’s candidate for President, and served a term as Chair of War Resisters International. He is retired, lives on Manhattan’s Lower East Side with his two cats, and can be contacted at: davidmcreynolds7@gmail.com. He was the subject of the dual biography by Martin Duberman: The Radical Lives of Barbara Deming and David McReynolds

33 Comments

33 Comments


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[-] 7 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I understand that ISIS changed its name to IS. I'm worried. Does that now mean that every time somebody types the word "is" on an email, that the NSA is going to queue into that email, and dissect it?

[-] 4 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

they do anyway - no???

[-] 5 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

It is good to know somebody IS listening to all our jibberish, and that some U.S. Stazi IS taking time out of his important day to figure out that i IS not a real terrorist, or somebody communicating to the IS organization in the Middle-East, but just some joker doing my best to get the government weenies to waste their time along with everybody's tax money.

I figure the faster we can get the US government to blow it's bucks, and have to print more damm money, the more the U.S. dollar becomes totally worthless, the faster all this stupid US war making will peater out.

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

interesting theory - not sure it will work - germany did ok in 1938. i hope you are right but i won't hold my breath

[-] 2 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I'm just one pion in a sea of idiots and assholes. I'm not sure that the actions of one pion will change this tide of idiom and assdom we are currently living through, but at least I'm doing something and having a little fun while at it.

Check it out; By his reply, Grapes is either a bullshit believing idiot or an NSA troll. At least I'm keeping him busy.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

I am studying pion decays for any hint of physics beyond the Standard Model. Filtering planktons overflowing from the National Cesspool keeps me busy in my second job. I got pee'd on and as happy as a Chesapeake Bay clam. In my people, I believe.

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Who are your people?

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

Die Amerikanern. Ich bin Amerikaner!

[-] 4 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Ja wohl, Das kann ich schon erkennen von die Sprache.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

The American quasi-Stasi knows coding so IS naming-metamorphoses make little difference.

What IS important is that the name change revealed the ambition of IS. The Taliban-in-Pakistan is now rallying for IS. Pakistan is not part of the Levant, Iraq, or Syria. IS is now gaining global allies - similar to what al-Qaeda did when it had gone global. What underlies all of them is the extreme hatred of the West, so-called fundamental adherence to Islam for confusing Muslims, and the bloody will to behave as kamikaze vampire bats.

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I bet you'll also drink kool-aid when ask to do so.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

Yes, I still believe in my people although I do not trust them. Do you have a teenage offspring who has just got driver's license, caught with a DUI conviction, and exercising American "rights"? Do you still believe? Yes. Do you trust? No!

Kool-aid is a favorite kid's drink so it would definitely be approved by Jesus for all Children of God! Socrates drank his hemlock when his people demanded so kool-aid is just fine for me. With all due respects, Great One, I defer Socrates' portion to you.

[-] 0 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I thought so.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Terrorists/Terrorism - absolutely - strengthens the MIC and it's stranglehold on nations/peoples. As it's suppliers can well attest.

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

IS exercised its first and second amendment rights through violence. Countries excercised their same rights in a similar way. Fair and square. If IS and the countries do not like the results of violence, they can stop very quickly. There is no reason that the battles against IS cannot work for peace as the Kalinga War.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

If IS and the countries do not like the results of violence, they can stop very quickly.

Well then - looking at history - back to the dawn of time - it would seem that violence is truly loved above all else - Hey?

[-] 2 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

Enlightenment IS possible as with Ashoka the Great and the Kalinga War that happened millennia ago. Shouldn't we have learnt more "civilized" ways by now, thousands of years later? I think that France and Germany did in forming the EU.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Helps ( enlightenment ) when outside forces do not feed the violence or give it arms.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

The U.S. was left alone during its Civil War. Being hard to get to, having little valuable resource, and being obscure cut down on interference and eventually result in better countries on social scales of developments.

The Middle East is the opposite so it suffers permanent "blessings" from being the center of the "Old World," major religions and sectarian legacies, much easily acessible oil and gas, and noteworthy like an exotic dancer so there are incessant interventions and many arms to feed the violence. Jesus's sayings adapted for developments of countries may well be: "The blessed shall be cursed," and "The ignored shall be blessed."

[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

1st of all - The Unknown Contributions of Brits in the American Civil War

2nd - Yes - the middle east has always been fought over by internal as well as external forces trying to control the trade routes and so the resources flowing along them. This dropped somewhat in importance as sea lanes and shipping developed that could bypass land routes - more so as air transport developed - but as fossil fuel was discovered and put to use in fueling industry - the middle east again became a major bone of contention for all of the industrialized nations.

In all of this time the middle east has never banded together in a united support against outside invaders.

They have access to all of the religious teachings - yet they can not unite to be peaceful and supportive neighbors with each other.

[-] 3 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

Hostile neutrality of Britain in the Civil War was not really a "contribution" in my opinion. It seemed to be a failure of the Secretary of State to sway Britain to the Union side.

The Civil War might have lasted longer but its human tolls went up higher. That could have taught the American colonists that they had to work out arrangements themselves contributing to self-governance. However much you and I both call our Big Brother Texass, I still think that we accorded it proper respect recognizing its Big Brotherhood, especially if foreign terrorists come gunning for all of us. After all Texass has a big enough ass to shield us.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Though often overlooked, more than 50,000 British citizens served in various capacities in the American Civil War.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-unknown-contributions-of-brits-in-the-american-civil-war-2478471/#IG6FO36KiP4j50eQ.99 Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

[-] 5 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I'm not so sure ISIS is all that bad. We need to keep in mind a good bit about ISIS we hear about comes from a quisling media pandering to an oligarchy in the U.S. bent on making war all over this planet. I wonder who the real sickos on this planet are. In all probability it is not ISIS.

[-] 3 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

Occam's razor suggests the producers of the snuff films interested in degrading ISIS

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 9 years ago

The real sickos on this planet are those who cannot forego their holds on power as circumstances change. This includes most powerful rulers and wannabe's. I think kool-aid or hemlock lovers when the people demand will be better as rulers. The world is blessed by the equality of humans before speeding bullets.

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[-] 4 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 9 years ago

Obama=playing with fire while on fire.Once upon a time in New Jersey-"Oh,the Humanity!"

[-] 1 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

''The United States' New War in the Middle East'' - video with Bill Moyers :

''Whether or not the west is serious about defeating IS, there can be little doubt that the acceleration of western military intervention in Iraq and Syria is pitched to aggravate regional crisis, while permitting policymakers to dramatically extend the unaccountable powers of the surveillance state.''

cave - bellum se ipsum alet ...

[-] 4 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 9 years ago

Love Bill.Hilarious how they kicked him off PBS and then had to let him back on.Good link,Thanx

[-] 4 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Bill Moyers deserves much respect and accolades for all his work for The 99%. The long and complex article by Nafeez Ahmed above also warrants and rewards a close read. Solidarity & also fyi :

fiat lux ...

[-] 2 points by ShadzSixtySix (1936) 9 years ago

Re. 'ISIS' - ''Missing from the chorus of outrage, however, has been any acknowledgement of the integral role of covert US and British regional military intelligence strategy in empowering and even directly sponsoring the very same virulent Islamist militants in Iraq, Syria and beyond, that went on to break away from al-Qaeda and form ‘ISIS’, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or now simply, the Islamic State (IS).

''Since 2003, Anglo-American power has secretly and openly coordinated direct and indirect support for Islamist terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda across the Middle East and North Africa. This ill-conceived patchwork geostrategy is a legacy of the persistent influence of neoconservative ideology, motivated by longstanding but often contradictory ambitions to dominate regional oil resources, defend an expansionist Israel, and in pursuit of these, re-draw the map of the Middle East.

''Now despite Pentagon denials that there will be boots on the ground – and Obama’s insistence that this would not be another “Iraq war” – local Kurdish military and intelligence sources confirm that US and German special operations forces are already “on the ground here. They are helping to support us in the attack.” US airstrikes on ISIS positions and arms supplies to the Kurds have also been accompanied by British RAF reconnaissance flights over the region and UK weapons shipments to Kurdish peshmerga forces.

''With their command and control centre based in Istanbul, Turkey, military supplies from Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular were transported by Turkish intelligence to the border for rebel acquisition. CIA operatives along with Israeli and Jordanian commandos were also training FSA rebels on the Jordanian-Syrian border with anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. In addition, other reports show that British and French military were also involved in these secret training programmes. It appears that the same FSA rebels receiving this elite training went straight into ISIS – last month one ISIS commander, Abu Yusaf, said, “Many of the FSA people who the west has trained are actually joining us.

''The Third Iraq War has begun. With it, longstanding neocon dreams to partition Iraq into three along ethnic and religious lines have been resurrected.'' Abridged from ...

fiat lux et fiat pax ...

[-] 1 points by ImNotMe (1488) 2 years ago

Seven years after this OWS forum post, we have this:

respice; adspice; prospice - spero meliora et caveat!

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

The Daily Show: Big Bang Strategy

by Jen HaydenFollow

[-] -1 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

Occam's razor suggests the producers of the snuff films interested in degrading ISIS