For the best part of a year now, a storm has been brewing in the Middle East and over the course of the last week the Canadian government has taken the difficult, but in my opinion necessary steps to help quell that storm.
As I'm sure most of you are aware by now, Canada is on the brink of entering a new war on terror – this time against a group of Islamic extremists going by the name ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
For those of you wondering what exactly ISIS is, it's a group reborn from the ashes of the old al-Qaeda group in Iraq. A group that has been disowned by today's al-Qaeda for being “too extreme”. Yes, you heard that correctly. A group that believes sending two planes into a pair of towers in New York City, killing thousands, is perfectly acceptable has distanced itself from ISIS because they consider the group to be too extreme. Too extreme.
I've been following this movement closely over the course of the past six months, dating back to the kidnapping and subsequent beheading of American reporter James Foley. This is a group that believes it has a god-given write to take over land in the Middle East they consider to be theirs, dating back to when the area was known as the Levant. So far they have kidnapped and beheaded upwards of 100 civilians and soldiers opposed to their movement and have uttered terrorist threats to countries such as the United States, Great Britain and indeed Canada.
This is a group that seemingly has no rules, clearly has no morals and will go to whatever lengths necessary to get what they want.
Last week Prime Minister Stephen Harper, backed by 155 Conservative MPs and two independent parliament members, announced that Canada would join the fight against ISIS, providing air strike support to a coalition movement made up of countries such as the US, UK, Australia, France and Denmark to eradicate what has become a serious threat to international security.
Here in the Lakeland, we'll be feeling the brunt of this decision more than most, with personnel from CFB Cold Lake having already received notice that they will be heading to the Middle East to assist in this mission.
Going to war is never, ever ideal and, I think everybody will agree that, should it be possible, every step necessary should be taken to try and avoid it. Unfortunately, ISIS has forced our hand. Their blatant disregard for just about every international law in existence, along with their persistent promises of eventual terror attacks leaves us and just about every other country in the civilized world with no choice.
I think our local MP for Westlock – St. Paul Brian Storseth put it best – this is an opportunity to stop an al-Qaeda-like extremist group at its foundation. The bottom line is this is a movement that needs to be stopped. The world cannot sit idly by while a group of heavily armed bandits do whatever they please in Iraq and Syria.
We're going to war people, and while it's not a decision I'm particularly jumping for joy about, it's a decision I can respect and a decision that I believe is what's best for this country, and quite frankly what's best for our world.
