in my VIEW ISIS November surprises make no sense — or do they? A fascinating article by Frida Ghitis, columnist for the Miami Herald and World Politics Review, attempts to construct a logical framework around the seemingly self-destructive actions of ISIS. The events last month with the downing of the Russian passenger plane, the bombing in Beirut, and the coordinated attacks on Paris are mind boggling, not only because of their boldness but because on the surface they make no strategic sense. ISIS does control some territory in Iraq and Syria and they managed to kill more than 500 people in the November attacks. But these attacks had absolutely no geo-political or strategic advantage for ISIS. In fact, sane minds would argue the opposite. The bombing of the Russian jet drew Russia and the United States closer together in the fight against terrorism. The Paris attacks brought immediate and lethal retaliation from the French, who have promised a sustained effort to destroy ISIS. And ISIS continues to rattle the cages of their Shiite enemies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran. None of this seems designed to make life easier or better for ISIS. Why then? Ghitis argues several interesting if counterintuitive points. First, ISIS is seeking a cataclysmic clash of the cultures between the secular world and the righteous Islamic State. France is the epicenter of secular Europe; Russia an atheist country with their own imperial designs. Let Russia align with western nations, MICHAEL G. SARAFA SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS the argument goes; trigger the NATO Alliance so that the war with ISIS takes on epic proportions. Secondly, ISIS wants to challenge what it views as false religions, beginning with Shiite Muslims represented by the ruling parties in Syria, Iraq and Iran. Thus, with Russia being forced to turn their attention to fighting terrorism, the ability to prop up the regime in Syria is lessened. By hitting a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, they are striking out at Iran. Their ability to It’s hard to understand not only the evil of ISIS, but its tactics. control large parts of Iraq make the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad look impotent. Enter Pope Francis, who called the battle with radical Islam the Third World War. It is no secret that the endgame for ISIS includes in part the defeat of Rome, not in the territorial sense, but rather by extending the reach of the Caliphate’s political and religious philosophy. Third, ISIS efforts are spurning the immigration crisis. The lands they want to control are bleeding Muslims. What better way to stop Muslim immigration to the West than to use easy international flow to plan a terror attack? “Who,” Ghitis asks, “takes a passport to a terrorist attack?” The Syrian passport found at the site of one of the Paris incidences was left there deliberately, she says, to embarrass the border patrol of these countries and also to bring to a screeching halt the refugee flow into Europe and the United States. On that front, ISIS November surprises were successful. Not only did the people in France, the U.S. and other western nations quickly turn against Muslim refugees, but these events are sure to stoke anger and fear at the Muslim citizens of these countries. As Ghitis says, “ISIS wants a war between Islam and the rest of the world, with Muslims on its side, as a way of creating and expanding its so-called caliphate.” Here again: success. ISIS has raised the stakes. The next months will likely not be good for them. France and possibly even the United States will be under immense pressure to put boots on the ground to expedite the defeat of the group. ISIS leaders will have to go underground, lest they will almost certainly be killed. Civilian populations in ISIS strongholds will no longer be a hindrance to aerial attacks. It will be ugly for them. Almost certainly, ISIS will suffer severe setbacks. These results would prevent most rationale groups from taking such actions in the first place. So why then? ISIS’ thinking is pathological, their orientation anti-modern, their methods barbaric and their tactics inhumane. Ghitis argues that, in fact, ISIS is intentionally destructive and self-destructive and that their ultimate goal is “apocalyptic” — that they are seeking an “end of the days battle” with the West. They may get such a battle but it will almost certainly be an end of their day’s battle. Much suffering on both sides will occur. By our way of measuring, they will lose. But in their minds, in losing, they win. How is that? In order to defeat ISIS, the United States and our allies have to throw out the rulebook. By suspending civil liberties, thwarting our own constitution, retaliating without discretion, we become a little less civilized, a little less democratic and a little less free. Yes, maybe then, then end of days gets a little closer. Michael Sarafa is president of the Bank of Michigan and a co-publisher of the Chaldean News. Quality stands out. When you’ve been in the coffee business for over 125 years, you’ve seen more than one way to brew a cup of joe. Cadillac Coffee has evolved with the times – and the technologies – to deliver coffeehouse quality products to valued partners throughout the Midwest. We are proud to serve the Chaldean Community and honored to be a part of its daily traditions. Great coffee. Made easy. 1.800.438.6900 cadillaccoffee.com 8 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>DECEMBER</strong> <strong>2015</strong>
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