No easy solution to ISIS?

The coordinated terror attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Paris and another series of attacks within a week, holding the  G20 summit at Turkey under shadows of threats only come to remind that there is no easy solution to the problem of terrorism. As a response to the terror attack at Paris, France has now stated targeting ISIS areas in Syria. French President Francois Hollande was prompt to announce that France would be “unforgiving with barbarians”.

The brutal truth is that ISIS has been brutal since its very inception and world forces attacking the ISIS controlled areas  have been ruthless without being effective. It does goes to suggest that in order to bring an end to terrorism-waging war may not be the only solution, there have to be additional steps than just being ruthless.

ISIS is much more that an international gang of criminals using religion and terror to extort money and grab land; carrying out killings in a way that send chill down the spine. ISIS has gone “global” with recruitments taking place almost everywhere in the world.  The lethal combination of greed and hate is obviously playing its role. Experts have highlighted that the ISIS is making amonthly revenue of close to $ 50 million that too from the eight oil files that it controls, and another chunk comes from imposing punishing taxes on people in the territories it controls.  If there is an iota of truth to what Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the ISIS group has received financial support from more than 40 countries, including some in attendance at the G-20 summit in Turkey, the situation could be even more volatile.

With France joining the Russians and Americans in attacking oil fields, oil pipelines and infrastructure in ISIS-held territories, it is expected that the attacks would hit ISIS hard.  ISIS has already been evicted from Sinjar in northern Iraq, parts of Aleppo and the oil-rich town of Hol in Syria, and are vulnerable to co-ordinated attacks. However, the other side of these attacks don’t pose a good picture either. Going by media reports in England; ISIS with each passing day has been able to carry our fresh recruitments, with family members and friends of those killed in attacks opting to become part of the terror outfit thus presenting a Catch 22 like situation.  “Jihad” and playing with the emotions to those who feel troubled at the hands of “western forces” is a potent weapon in the hand of ISIS recruiters and they have been able to deliver for their masters and deliver terrible blow to the victims of terrorism.

There is no denying the fact that Europeans and Americans have also suffered because of Islamist terror groups but so have Arabs, Asians,  Africans and Australians too. How does one stop this? World leaders confronted for finding a right solution, would perhaps find a lot to cherish in what President Obama has said.

President Obama made an all out appeal and sent a very strong message across the world to make sure that children are taught how to tackle extremism. “The Muslim community has to think about how we make sure that children are not being infected with this twisted notion that somehow they can kill innocent people and that that is justified by religion.” Obama made a call to Muslims around the world, “To some degree, this is something that has to come from within the Muslim community itself, and I think there have been times where there has not been enough pushback against extremism.” President Obama has called for a change of mindset and has asked the Muslim community to take a lead while reminding that ISIS does not represent Islam and said “ISIS is, in fact, the face of evil. ISIS does not represent Islam. It is not representative in any way of the attitudes of the overwhelming majority of Muslims. This is something that’s been emphasized by Muslim leaders.” Obama struck right chord when he reminded that Muslim leaders around the world have done little to address the problem facing the world. “Muslims around the world — religious leaders, political leaders, ordinary people — have to ask very serious questions about how did these extremist ideologies take root, even if it’s only affecting a very small fraction of the population. It is real and it is dangerous. And it has built up over time, and with social media it has now accelerated,” he said.

Obama has asked the Muslims around the world and concerned to ensure better lives to the next generations.  “The Muslim community has to think about how we make sure that children are not being infected with this twisted notion that somehow they can kill innocent people and that that is justified by religion.” His words have a logical appeal but a lot has to be done to make it effective, still that may not be easy to achieve.