News is out that ISIS has burned more people to death. This time, it is just under 50 people in the town of al Baghdadi in Iraq. The victims were local fighters for the Iraqi government and their families. Al Baghdadi was just captured at the end of last week by ISIS. It is the town just outside the air base where 300 American troops are stationed.
Think about this for a moment. There is, of course, the horror that ISIS would burn people alive. This execution is a violation of sharia law according to most of Islam, but ISIS did it anyway. The point of the murders is that those who oppose ISIS will be dealt with harshly. It is an attempt to instill fear in the hearts of all of the local population so that there will be no resistance to the ISIS conquest. As a result, ISIS is making clear to all potential opposition fighters that taking the side of the Iraqi government against ISIS will not only lead to their death but also to the death of the families of those who do so. It is a barbaric tactic, but it will work if the potential opponents of ISIS see no way to fight ISIS successfully.
Then there is an even worse thought from the standpoint of the USA. Just imagine what would happen if ISIS were to overrun the airbase next to al Baghdadi. Remember, the defense of that base is pretty much in the hands of the Iraqi forces. If ISIS were to mass 4 or 5 thousand troops and make a full assault on the base, would the Iraqi troops be able to stop them? Those same troops melted away when ISIS first launched its attacks into Iraq last summer. Are they really that much stronger now? Is there any doubt that ISIS would burn any American captives alive if they could?
It is madness for us to leave forces out in ISIS territory without an adequate defense to protect them.
Think about this for a moment. There is, of course, the horror that ISIS would burn people alive. This execution is a violation of sharia law according to most of Islam, but ISIS did it anyway. The point of the murders is that those who oppose ISIS will be dealt with harshly. It is an attempt to instill fear in the hearts of all of the local population so that there will be no resistance to the ISIS conquest. As a result, ISIS is making clear to all potential opposition fighters that taking the side of the Iraqi government against ISIS will not only lead to their death but also to the death of the families of those who do so. It is a barbaric tactic, but it will work if the potential opponents of ISIS see no way to fight ISIS successfully.
Then there is an even worse thought from the standpoint of the USA. Just imagine what would happen if ISIS were to overrun the airbase next to al Baghdadi. Remember, the defense of that base is pretty much in the hands of the Iraqi forces. If ISIS were to mass 4 or 5 thousand troops and make a full assault on the base, would the Iraqi troops be able to stop them? Those same troops melted away when ISIS first launched its attacks into Iraq last summer. Are they really that much stronger now? Is there any doubt that ISIS would burn any American captives alive if they could?
It is madness for us to leave forces out in ISIS territory without an adequate defense to protect them.
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