Country Watch
Syria, the Arab League endorsed a United Nations Security Council resolution passed in August. This resolution called on United Nations member states to prevent foreign fighters from joining the Islamic State’s ranks and to cut off financial and other support for the terrorist organization. While the meeting adjourned without directly endors- ing either the U.S. aerial campaign or the Iraqi ef- fort to dislodge the Islamic State, it was expected that Washington’s efforts would be backed.
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When in Baghdad on October 20, 2014, to an- nounce the arrival of an Arab League delegation to address the Islamic State situation in Iraq, Elaraby confirmed the Arab League’s support for Iraq and its efforts to rid the country of the Islamic State jihadists. At an earlier meeting, Elaraby noted any military assistance would take place under the Arab League joint defense pact. Such military assistance to Iraq would have to come in a form other than boots on the ground. Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari stated at the meeting that Iraq would welcome foreign aid in any form except ground troops. The Arab League strategy is in many ways focused on non- military action, and possibly no military action at all. Elaraby, alongside foreign ministers of Kuwait and Mauritania, expressed, once again, the need to theologically, intellectually, and economically fight against the Islamic State.
While it is clear that U.S. efforts in the region will involve continued bombing of the Islamic State positions, the U.S. strategy also includes cut- ting off funds to the terrorist organization. This approach is specifically aimed at severing the Islamic State’s oil revenues and kidnapping ran- soms. Although in the early stages of the opera- tion, the plan appears to be working. Speaking to reporters in mid-October, David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury Department Under Secretary for Terror- ism and Financial Intelligence, stated that U.S. efforts have begun to cut into the Islamic State’s substantial oil revenue of nearly $1 million USD per day. Nevertheless, continued efforts are nec-
essary if the coalition fighting the Islamic State is going to succeed in its mission. Military opera- tions are one way to do this.
Canadian fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and sur- veillance planes joined the U.S. led coalition on Sunday, November 2, 2014, one week after Tur- key joined the effort. Over sixty coalition partners, including many Western and Middle Eastern na- tions, have joined the fight in Syria and Iraq. This is in addition to the numerous groups fighting on the ground within the two countries, namely Iraqi Kurdistan.
Although the operations against ISIS are ex- pected to take years, it is unclear how long the international community will accept a campaign primarily composed of air strikes. With success- es being questioned, more may be required. This is especially true after the Iraqi government an- nounced on November 2, 2014, that Islamic State militants had killed 322 members of an Iraqi tribe in the western Anbar province and dumped the bodies of fifty women and children in a well.
The systematic killings marked some of the worst bloodshed of the conflict and include crimes against humanity the international community cannot tolerate. Additionally, tens of thousands of Kurds have been forced to flee their homes in Kobane because of intense fighting. Further coordination between the Arab League and the Western coalition may be needed to push the Is- lamic State back. So far, there is no indication the Arab League is prepared to back up their rhetoric with action.
*Submitted by Justin Kohlbeck
UN Climate Summit: No Teeth, but Many Smiles
Climate Summit 2014 took place at the UN Head- quarters in New York on September 23, 2014, one day before the annual UN General Assembly General Debate. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
ILSA Quarterly » volume 23 » issue 2 » December 2014
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