Matt Fecteau: Playing into the Islamic State’s Hands
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Like most Americans, I was shocked and angry by the horrific attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. I believe something needs to be done, but the introduction of conventional, ground troops may only aggravate the situation.
In the lead up to the Iraq War, the sales pitch was good; victory would come quick, and the war would pay for itself. In 2002, the American people overwhelmingly supported military intervention against Iraq. As a result, absent profound international support, Congress voted to authorize the war and send ground troops to Iraq.
The quick victory turned into a quagmire. U.S. forces were so bogged down by criminals and terrorists that the situation deteriorated into a full-blown insurgency. With the mounting death toll, the American people soured on the war, accompanied by calls for withdrawal. In addition, Iraq became a recruitment tool for jihadists, creating more Islamic fundamentalists.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA similar call for war against the Islamic State is growing exceedingly louder especially after the recent terrorist attacks. Some presidential candidates are calling for a sizable amount of conventional troops on the ground. A recent CNN poll found that 53% of Americans supported sending ground troops into Iraq or Syria. This parallels events leading up to the Iraq war.
Some cite the recent terrorist attacks as reason to believe the organization is more of a threat than ever. In fact, according to recent polling, almost 8 in 10 Americans believe a major terrorist attack is likely in the next twelve months.
Despite what recent polling may suggest, the Islamic State’s latest terror attacks are not evidence of an organization on the ascension; these attacks are evidence of an organization in decline. Because the world powers have crippled a large part of the Islamic State’s apparatus, it must resort to terrorist attacks on soft targets (civilians). Every conventional conflict the Islamic State fought against coalition backed forces has ended in complete failure, so it has lowered the bar.
The recent terror attacks have made the west feel insecure and vulnerable, just like after 9/11 and before the Iraq war. This plays right into the Islamic State’s hands. The Islamic State wants a conventional ground force to touch down for a prolonged period in the desert of Syria or Iraq, such a move would be a recruitment bonanza for these Islamic fundamentalists.
While ground forces in Syria or Iraq seem appealing, no long-term, conventional, ground troops will likely change the dynamics of this war, but could exacerbate the situation. Let’s not play into the Islamic State’s hands especially in the shadow of the Iraq war.
Matt Fecteau ([email protected]), of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, lost to U.S. Rep. David Cicilline in last year’s Democratic primary. He is a former White House national security intern and Iraq war veteran.
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