ISIS is an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. The group originated from Iraq and is composed of Sunni Muslims. Currently, it has spread in Syria. The ISIS demands are that all Muslims in the world should live in one Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. Foreign fighters, including the United States, have joined Syria to fight against the ISIS.

Explanation:

The major reason for the Islamic state Iraq and Syria (ISIS) conflict is the political enmity between the Sunni and Shia Muslims of Syria and Iraq. Another driver of this conflict is the support from Sunnis from both nations. They support the ISIS ideology and this gives the group the support and strength to keep fighting. In addition, the ISIS is driven from the money got from extortion and oil. Syria’s northern oil fields are under the control of ISIS. Therefore, they use trucks to transport oil to Turkey.

Analysis:

As the main driver of the conflict, the political difference between the two groups should be central to every action that is focused towards ending the conflict. The second driver, the ideology that the ISIS bases its action on, should be an issue of concern (Kerry 1).  Any intervention should ensure that Sunni supporters drop that ideology and focus on building an inclusive national government. To conclude, the US military will create more harm through use of weapons to end the ISIS conflict. The US policy makers should identify the drivers of the conflict and, therefore, make interventions to create a firm solution.

Recommendations from the US homeland perspective that should guide US policies towards ISIS

As the US department of homeland security, we are responsible for protecting the nation and its territories from attacks and responding to terrorist attacks, natural disasters and man-made accidents. As such, any US policy towards the ISIS affects the department and the American people. Since the ISIS conflict worsened, there is the danger that some of its members may cross the US border. In order to ensure that the US involvement does not affect the internal security of the nation, the US could deal and end the ISIS conflict if policies put in place focus not only ending the ISIS, but also upholding the safety of the Americans. First, military force should be used with the aim of shaping diplomacy. Rather than using military to destroy ISIS and its supporters, a political accommodation can be successful. The US should put measures on how to ensure that Iraq has an inclusive government where Shiite and Sunnis will be equally represented. This would end communal violence. This intervention will lead to the formation of a new Iraq government. This will also prevent the conflict from spreading to Lebanon and also the ISIS invading our nation. In addition, we advice the US and its allies to combat the ISIS and other similar groups, not only through military support, but also through use of various tools such as working with partners to counter the ISIS ideology, ending the groups finances and logistics and most importantly, winning over the support of Sunnis in the Iraq and Syria areas.

Since ISIS is Sunni-dominated and also receives support from Sunni Muslims, it is evident that the military intervention in ending the ISIS conflict would be futile as this would not solve the differences between the two groups. The political difference between the two groups should be central to every action that is focused towards ending the conflict. US policies should focus on ensuring that Sunni supporters drop that ideology and focus on building an inclusive national government. Therefore, the US military create more harm through use of only weapons to end the ISIS conflict. US policy makers should identify the drivers of the conflict and, therefore, make interventions to create a firm solution. This is because it is only through political accommodation and unmilitary interventions (pulling down the foundation of the group) that the ISIS will not only be defeated, but also destroyed completely. Therefore, the US and its allies would be safe from their attack.

So far, US air strikes against the ISIS has been important in containing the group, responding to threats to US citizens in Iraq, and preventing possible actions of genocide (Baldor2). However, US military action needs to be just part of the most important multinational security and political strategy. In order to ensure that the US succeeds in ending the ISIS conflict, it should ensure that other Middle East areas are not affected. US policies towards ISIS should detail how neighboring countries should be shielded from the ISIS. In addition, US policies should detail how to reduce humanitarian crisis troubling the civilians. In other words, any attempt or attack to the ISIS should put into consideration the lives of innocent people. This is because recently, attacks from the US had left innocent civilians dead. This should be put into consideration. Restoring the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq will not only need the military superiority of the US, but also the partnership from US allies (Kerry 1). This would provide a coordinated action towards defeating the ISIS.

Since the safety of the nation is our responsibility, we also recommend that the US should also prevent its citizens from travelling to Syria. It is evident that a large number of Americans and other Europeans have travelled to Syria. A dozen of these Americans are believed to be fighting alongside the ISIS. This is a threat to the nation and the people of the United States at large as they may return to US with murderous intentions. The US should therefore include policies on securing its people first before initiating any attacks or action towards the ISIS. This recommendation and those highlighted above, if put into consideration, would guide the US towards the ISIS.

Works Cited

Baldor, Lolita. U.S. Launches Airstrikes against ISIS near Baghdad, Marking First Step in Expanded Fight. Huffpost. September 17, 2014. Web. Sep 17th, 2014.

Post wires and Earle, Geoff. Obama administration confirms ISIS conflict is war. New York Post.September 13, 2014.Web. September 17th, 2014.

Kerry, John. The Threat of ISIS Demands a Global Coalition. The New York Times. AUG. 29, 2014. Web 17^th, 2014.

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