Throughout the 20th century, there were many sources of major conflict. From World War I, to World War II, to the Cold War, the world has often been at war, both ideologically and militarily. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, American President George W. Bush declared a new war, called the War on Terror, a fight against terrorist groups in the Middle East (The White House's Coalition Information Center). A coalition lead by the United States is at war with one of these terrorist groups known as ISIS, which is currently operating in Iraq and Syria. Canada is fighting alongside the U.S. in this conflict, but there has been some debate over what our role should be in the war. (U.S. Department of State). On one hand, political party leaders Justin
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AQI was created in October 2004, when a terrorist group named Bayat al Imam, based in Iraq, declared its loyalty to al Qaeda, the group that carried out the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. (Gerges 339 – 342). Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi Muslim, gained control AQI in 2010, after years of decline and unpopularity due to their brutal tactics. In 2011, after the US withdrew its troops from Iraq, AQI was under less military pressure, and expanded its terrorist operations in Iraq. In April 2013, its name was changed to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, and with Syria weakened by a civil war, it increased its operations there. It split from al-Qaeda in February of 2014, and continued to gain power and territory. On June 29, 2014 ISIS again changed its name, creating a caliphate named the Islamic State, with Baghdadi as the caliph, although this caliphate has not been acknowledged by other countries (Standford University). In September of 2014, the US began supporting the Iraqi army by carrying out airstrikes against ISIS, eventually forming an international Anti-ISIS coalition with NATO allies such as Canada, Germany, and Italy, among others (Nicks). This coalition continues to fight ISIS to this day, by carrying out airstrikes against ISIS, training ground troops fighting in Iraq and Syria, and by providing aid to those affected by the conflict (U.S. Department of …show more content…
Despite the significant power of ISIS, the efforts of the anti-ISIS coalition has been able to degrade their fighting ability and slow their advance. In Stephen Harper’s speech to the House of Commons on the ongoing fight against ISIS, also called ISIL, he said “the territorial spread of ISIL, something occurring at a truly terrifying pace in the spring and summer of last year, has been more or less halted.” This success does not mean that we should stop fighting them, however, as Stephen Harper goes on to say that “ISIL's territorial hold remains substantial and its leadership and networking of wider jihadist forces has continued.” We have had some success at combating ISIS so far, and should continue, as they remain a formidable enemy, and continue to gain
AQI was created in October 2004, when a terrorist group named Bayat al Imam, based in Iraq, declared its loyalty to al Qaeda, the group that carried out the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. (Gerges 339 – 342). Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi Muslim, gained control AQI in 2010, after years of decline and unpopularity due to their brutal tactics. In 2011, after the US withdrew its troops from Iraq, AQI was under less military pressure, and expanded its terrorist operations in Iraq. In April 2013, its name was changed to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, and with Syria weakened by a civil war, it increased its operations there. It split from al-Qaeda in February of 2014, and continued to gain power and territory. On June 29, 2014 ISIS again changed its name, creating a caliphate named the Islamic State, with Baghdadi as the caliph, although this caliphate has not been acknowledged by other countries (Standford University). In September of 2014, the US began supporting the Iraqi army by carrying out airstrikes against ISIS, eventually forming an international Anti-ISIS coalition with NATO allies such as Canada, Germany, and Italy, among others (Nicks). This coalition continues to fight ISIS to this day, by carrying out airstrikes against ISIS, training ground troops fighting in Iraq and Syria, and by providing aid to those affected by the conflict (U.S. Department of …show more content…
Despite the significant power of ISIS, the efforts of the anti-ISIS coalition has been able to degrade their fighting ability and slow their advance. In Stephen Harper’s speech to the House of Commons on the ongoing fight against ISIS, also called ISIL, he said “the territorial spread of ISIL, something occurring at a truly terrifying pace in the spring and summer of last year, has been more or less halted.” This success does not mean that we should stop fighting them, however, as Stephen Harper goes on to say that “ISIL's territorial hold remains substantial and its leadership and networking of wider jihadist forces has continued.” We have had some success at combating ISIS so far, and should continue, as they remain a formidable enemy, and continue to gain