The use of U.S ground forces against ISIS

While the use of U.S ground forces against ISIS in Iraq and Syria would be vastly unpopular, it has become necessary with the growing strength, scope, and influence of ISIS. While the U.S led air campaign against ISIS has made a considerable impact on the group's progress the war simply can not be won from the air; Iraqi, Kurdish, and Syrian forces do not have the training, technology, or manpower to effectively wage a ground war alone. In the meantime ISIS continues to recruit the citizens of western nations and unleash them on western countries; I cite the Paris attacks, the Australian cafe, and the countless western citizens arrested before being able to carry out their acts of "jihad". ISIS is not Al Qaeda, it is not the Taliban; ISIS is a militia with the organization and military tactics of a revolution or coup. Unlike the groups faced before it ISIS speaks not of a regional conflict but broadcasts their cause to millions as a global war on western values and freedoms. Over the course of ISIS' duration of power in Syria and Iraq many miles of land have been conquered and entire populations slaughtered, enslaved, or displaced. ISIS may be losing ground but they are not losing the war. Every month hundreds of supporters take up arms and join ISIS on the front lines and although ISIS is far from growing at the rate seen before the air campaign they are not being pushed back fast enough to negate their increases in power. Power that had materialized in the form of millions of dollars in taxes collected from the people within their territory, oil production, and small amounts of regional trade. Power that has grown with every international terrorist organization that has pledged allegiance to ISIS including groups in Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, India and the Philippines.(Huffington) With every group that joins ISIS the war against them only grows harder, longer, and deadlier; that is why it is imperative that the U.S supply the military ground forces necessary to neutralize this problem before it expands and becomes too large to handle. Many people ask why the U.S should be responsible for such a large military campaign and the question is one of both technical and moral responsibility. The U.S holds a technical responsibility after leaving Iraq before the Iraqi government was ready to prepared to accept the challenge, this coupled with the U.S' negligible response to the Syrian Civil War provided ISIS the turmoil and instability necessary to expand generally unopposed. Morally, the U.S holds an obligation to protect the democratic process and freedom where ever it is being oppressed. ISIS has oppressed the freedoms of those it conquers; raping and enslaving Yazidi women and children, executing those opposed to their beliefs and going as far as to kidnap and publicly execute several western humanitarian aids including several Americans. The question should be asked: Where do WE draw the line? As ISIS grows and continues to recruit new members their reach also grows. Every month countless western citizens vow allegiance to ISIS and travel to Syria or Iraq to fight for them, ISIS encourages those who can not travel to wage war at home; a home that is located in France, England, the Netherlands, Australia, or the U.S. Before more civilians are killed while getting a coffee or walking the streets of their city , the U.S needs to intervene and expedite the demise of ISIS. ISIS is far more than a terrorist organization, it isn't just a "death cult", ISIS is a military militia with a deliberate political goal and the means to achieve it. ISIS wants to establish the Islamic Caliphate; and has shown a heightened ability to govern and organize even under the relentless bombing of strategic locations. This ability to continue governing even in the face of unparalleled destruction only further proves the need for military ground forces. A predator drone can not shake a hand, play soccer with a kid, or hand out food to the hungry; only a person can do that. War is just as much about the hearts and minds as it is about the strategy and tactics; especially in a war of ideology. ISIS needs to be destroyed before more people join them and their power grows any stronger. ISIS needs to be destroyed not delayed, crushed not courted. Only the U.S has the unilateral ability to do this. Huffington- http://www.huffingtonpost.com...