The war against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil), to be supposedly waged by a 40-strong alliance of countries led by the US, is the rationale and probably the only move at this point. This terrorist outfit must be eradicated. There is no doubt here. And the monstrous ideology espoused by the group and its supporters must be uprooted. But there are few legitimate questions that remain unanswered and lead to more confusion in the pursuit to defeat Isil and other terrorist groups in our region.
The campaign against those groups is not being defined clearly, with conflicting messages coming out of the US. The White House stressed repeatedly that the campaign will be waged from the air with selective air strikes against the strongholds and armed concentrations of Isil. France, a key member of the alliance, agreed. However, the Pentagon seems to differ. Its generals, including the Chief of Staff, believe the war must involve a ground campaign, referring to the conventional wisdom that says no war in history was ever won from the air alone. Today, the region is at a turning point in its history. Since 2011, the Arab world has seen so many dramatic changes that continue to reshape the political and social boundaries. But the planned campaign against the terrorist groups could be a monumental event that will impact the region’s future. Thus, the world has the right to ask for clarity.
