ISIS, Iraq, and Syria: Growing Strategic Threat of ISIL, Impact of U.S. Policy, Obama Strategy, Attacks on Ancient Communities and Religious Minorities, Force Authorization, Walid Phares, Experts

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this unique book reproduces a number of reports and government documents about the threat of ISIS (ISIL) and the Islamic State, along with wars in Iraq and Syria. Titles in the collection include:

Regional Impact of U.S. Policy Towards Iraq and Syria * The Growing Strategic Threat of ISIS * The Administration's Strategy To Confront Isis * ISIS: Defining The Enemy * Ancient Communities Under Attack: ISIS's War On Religious Minorities * The President's Request for Authorization to Use Force Against ISIS: Military And Diplomatic Efforts * The Evolution of Terrorist Propaganda: The Paris Attack and Social Media * U.S. Counterterrorism Efforts in Syria: A Winning Strategy?

Secretary of State Kerry, in calling for an authorization for the use of force against ISIS, noted:

Our Nation is strongest, always has been, when we act together. It is a great tradition in this country of foreign policy having a special place, that politics ends at the water's edge, and that we will act on behalf of our Nation without regard to party and ideology. We simply cannot allow this collection of murderers and thugs to achieve, in their group, their ambition, which includes, by the way, most likely the death or submission of all those who oppose it, the seizure of land, the theft of resources, the incitement of terrorism across the globe, the killing and attacking of people simply for what they believe or for who they are. And the joint resolution that is proposed by the President provides the means for America and its representatives to speak with a single powerful voice at this pivotal hour.

The President already has statutory authority to act against ISIL, but a clear and formal expression of this Congress' backing at this moment in time would dispel doubt that might exist anywhere that Americans are united in this effort. Approval of this resolution would encourage our friends and our partners in the Middle East. It would further energize the members and prospective members of the global coalition that we have assembled to oppose Daesh. And it would constitute a richly deserved vote of confidence in the men and women of our Armed Forces who are on the front lines prosecuting this effort on our behalf. Your unity would also send an unmistakable message to the leaders of Daesh. They have to understand they cannot divide us. Do not let them. They cannot intimidate us, and they have no hope of defeating us. The resolution that we have proposed would give the President a clear mandate to prosecute the armed component of this conflict against Daesh and associated persons or forces which we believe is carefully delineated and defined. And while the proposal contains certain limitations that are appropriate in light of the nature of this mission, it provides the flexibility that the President needs to direct a successful military campaign. And that is why the administration did propose a limitation on the use of enduring offensive ground combat operations.

ISIL is distinctive, however, because it holds territory and will continue—if not stopped—to seize more; because of its financial resources; because of the destabilizing impact of its activities on the broader Middle East; because of its pretentions to worldwide leadership; and because it has already been culpable in the violent death of Americans. I don't need to review for this committee the full litany of outrages committed by ISIL, but I will say that among them are atrocities against the Assyrian Christian and Yazidi religious communities; the crucifixion of children; the sale and enslavement of women and girls; the hideous murder of captives from as near as Jordan and as distant as Japan; the destruction of irreplaceable cultural sites; and the plunder and destruction of cities and towns in which followers of Islam worship, work, and raise their families.