Expanding the Coalition to Defeat ISIS
The ACLJ specifically called for a strategy session designed to counter the Islamic State, or ISIS almost one year ago. Consistent with this idea, the Trump Administration has invited more than 60 nations and international organizations to Washington next week. This comes as the Trump Administration has increased the capability of American forces to counter terrorism, including additional U.S. troops to support the launch of a military assault on the jihadists’ home base.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will host the two-day gathering of a global coalition. The meeting will focus on fighting the radical Islamic jihadist group militarily, while also starving it of money, weapons, and fighters.
The meeting is the largest since President Trump was sworn into office, and comes as the Islamic State appears to be losing ground.
The Washington Post quoted a senior U.S. official who said, “It tells the coalition partners the U.S. remains incredibly committed to working with them to defeat” the group now loosely based in Raqqa, Syria. “The first thing the new administration will do is reinforce the importance of the coalition,” which includes both military partners and nations that support diplomatic and humanitarian efforts through donations of money, expertise, and other resources, the official said.
On behalf of the American people, we have consistently demanded that the actions to defeat global terrorism be clear, specific, and international in composition: unequivocal actions to eliminate an existential threat. In addition to calling ISIS’s actions genocide, which the Secretary of State did in response to ACLJ petitions, we have made the case for multilateral intervention in the form of “an effective international coalition to defeat ISIS militarily.” We have supported the creation of safe zones in Syria for the millions of refugees fleeing the human carnage and violence. We declared the necessity of naming the enemy we face. And we have emphasized that the world must unite in these efforts.
The meeting on March 22-23 is the beginning of a burgeoning coalition to defeat and destroy ISIS. It is the first gathering of its kind to bring representatives from all over the world with one common purpose: to join resources, people, military might, and ideas to fight the scourge of radical Islamic jihad.
The meeting is just the first step. We are at war. It is a long war, a multi-generational war. ISIS is but one of several terrorist groups who seek to kill innocent people and end civilization as we know it. We must come to terms with this reality and understand that wars are either won or lost. We must fight to win this war.
We need your voice. We need your support. Stand with us against the genocidal slaughter and unspeakable horrors committed by ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Words are not enough. We must turn the tide of international apathy and mobilize the world community to take a united stand against this evil. Join us as we continue to insist that the United States lead the international community to stop genocide, protect Christians and other religious minorities, defend the innocent, and defeat ISIS and all forms of radical Islamic terrorism.