As the Indianapolis Recorder goes to press this week, amid accounts of missiles inbound to Syria in response to ISIS, uncertainty and questions abound about the United States’ true role and objective.
Is it realistic to think there will be no boots on the ground? Are our targets ISIS, the Khorasan Group, al-Nusra Front, or all three? Is Congress on board? Is it necessary for Congress to be completely on board?
Questions are endless, answers are evasive at this hour. Is this lack of concrete information part of a military strategy, or is the President and his administration still seeking clarity themselves?
Again, many questions, few answers.
Here’s my opinion: I believe we stand at the beginning of what could easily turn into war. A real war, that includes men and women in uniform risking their lives, and fighting for our country.
War is not something I personally desire for America and it is probably not how President Barack Obama wanted to finish his remaining years in office. Doubtless, like most Americans, he desired peace.
Unfortunately, that seems less and less likely to happen.
ISIS is a threat to the United States, and so are home-grown terrorists who collude with extremists out of the country, in their efforts to execute foreign and domestic attacks.
Although the POTUS may not call the government’s actions a war, that’s exactly what this is shaping up to be.
Because I believe President Obama to be a man of his word – at least most of the time, I’m relying on his previous statements to support my claim.
President Obama made the following statement during a visit to Cairo shortly after his election.
“We will relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.”
In exercising his “first” goal as president, Obama is doing what he thinks must be done to protect Americans.
I believe I am as war-weary as the next person. However, I understand the need to mobilize – this is an urgent matter.
The facts are clear: ISIS is an extremely violent, cruel entity that must be stopped. If not, the beheadings will escalate, as will other extreme acts of violence. ISIS thrives on terror, they do all they can to promote it and inflict fear. Now is the time to act, and to pray.
As we embark on the coming weeks, months and possibly years, we must remain prayerful.
We must pray for our troops who are executing the airstrikes and those who will be on the ground.
We must also pray for President Obama and his leadership through what will become a very difficult time. Finally, as with any war, we must pray for the resulting refugees seeking safe harbor.
As of press time, that’s some 400,000 anticipated men, women and children, who are expected to flee to nearby Turkey and other areas to remove themselves from the war zone.
