The terrorist group called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have self-proclaimed themselves as the new caliphate of Islam. Last September, President Obama announced that the United States would be involved with the degradation and destruction of the terrorist group.  Since this announcement, the U.S. has lead airstrike campaigns and leant troops to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in advisory positions.

In the news we have seen ISIL capture oil refineries, assault highways, and commit atrocities calling upon terror tactics such as crucifixion. In Syria, the siege of Kobani has been an ongoing conflict where Peshmerga Kurds have held the line against ISIL advances. Throughout all of this, the United States has been a symbol of strength for our Kurdish and Iraqi allies. This is an objective that needs to continue to be supported.

While Secretary of State John Kerry has been working hard building forces for a coalition with European allies, he has also been encouraging congress not to limit support for the fight against ISIL. Just recently 1,500 troops from this U.S. led coalition were pledged, and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron visited Turkey with the goal to gain support for it.

The United States ought to continue to ask allies for help in this effort, because we should not have to carry this burden alone. Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and support from our allies is a crucial piece in the puzzle of the dissolution of ISIL.

We also ought to continue to work with the Iraq government, and force inclusion of tribal areas in the political process. However, if you know anything about the recent history of Syria, you should know that Assad’s government is a vastly different issue. He has utilized chemical weapons against his own citizens, and the only reason that the U.S. would not get involved was because of the United Nations Security Council. Both Russia and China blocked the resolution to intervene against human rights violations. 

How should the U.S. handle the Syrian government while ISIL occupies territory in the historical areas called the Levant? Currently, we have been providing rebels with air support at pivotal battles including Kobani. While the U.S. should eventually face the threat posed by Assad’s regime, we ought to take care of ISIL first. By helping Kurdish allies in Syria, the U.S. has an opportunity to change how refugees might view us. 

Whether a picture of the Syrian Yarmouk refugee camp was photo shopped or not, the fact remains that millions of refugees exist within the country and at its borders. Therefore, it is my final recommendation that congress should look hard at our budget and consider increasing the amount of spending under Function 150 for foreign aid. 

If a fraction of the amount of money we waste on failed research and development projects was transferred over, the U.N. could get a lot more supplies to refugees on the Turkey-Syria border.