President Barrack Obama Profile
Despite heavy criticism from both sides of the political table, U.S. President Barrack Obama announced that the United States will continue supporting Iraq with the conflict against the Islamic State, but will not be sending in ground troops. The pledge was made in a statement given on Thursday.
The president said that the U.S. government will be "working with our international partners to provide humanitarian assistance to those who are suffering in northern Iraq wherever we have capabilities," but announced that that will happen "without committing combat troops on the ground." So far, however it is reported that most of the refugees that were trapped on top of Mount Sinjar have been rescued.
The overall situation in the Iraq-Syria area is still dire, with many minorities under danger of persecution from the ISIS. These include Iraqi Christians, Yazidis and even Sunni Muslims. The president stated that in response the U.S. will continue to carry out airstrikes in the area "to protect our people and facilities in Iraq", and also provide American weapons to Kurdish forces fighting the Jihadists.
Meanwhile, the United Nations declared a "Level 3 Emergency" in Iraq; the highest level of humanitarian emergency. Nickolay Miadenov, a U.N. special representative explained that this level of humanitarian persecution and violence could "facilitate mobilization of additional resources in goods, funds and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements."
So far, the ISIS is believed to have forced around 1.2 million civilians to leave their homes to avoid persecution and death. The Jihadists are reported to have committed atrocious acts including the beheading of children and even selling Christian women as sexual slaves. As a result many religious and political leaders both from the Middle East and the U.S. have urged the Obama administration that America must do more to stop further violation of human rights.
Some politicians have expressed that the ISIS has accumulated enough territory and weapons that it should be considered a direct threat to the America. South California GOP Senator Lindsey Graham warned on Fox News, "Mr. President, be honest with the threat we face. They are coming."
