The New Red Scare

The Russian Federation has yet again stepped up its military taunts in Europe. Previous occurrences include troops massing along the Ukrainian border as well as speculation that A submarine was in the bay of Stockholm Sweden.  Today a report on the BBC stated that the Russian Air force has increased its number of flights over European airspace. Russian fighter have been known to cross into NATO airspace as the article said that NATO has escorted Russian aircraft out of its airspace more than 100 times this year.

The number of occurrences is increasing and formations are seen unusual for NATO , as the flights are of great size , and include combination of MIGS and bombers. Relations among Russia and the West have been strained due to the conflict in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Sanctions have been imposed on Russia and many believe the show military mobilization is a way to taunt NATO  and other neighboring states.  Whether it be noise or signals, NATO  must be prepared to counter and not give in to Russian intimidation. Any mistake NATO makes can justify Russian aggression towards Ukraine or in other surrounding state. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29825890

Kobani's Only Hope

The Iraqi Kurd parliament  have approved  deployment of troops into Syria to aid Syrian Kurds. Kobani which is on the verge of being overrun by Islamic State is on the border with Turkey ,and it's Kurdish population is in dire need of support. Kobani is surrounded on all sides and the Kurds are fighting desperately to fend off IS attacks. Coalition air strikes and aid drops are the only thing that is saving the Kurds there for the time being. Turkey refuses to aid or allow until very recent allow Kurds to migrate into Syria from Turkey. Due to this Iraqi Kurdistan is willing to deploy its own troops into Syria to help their fellow brothers. The Iraqi Kurdish army will move through Turkish soil to enter Kobani. This is a real turn events as Turkey had been very reluctant to enter the conflict in any way. Turkey refuses to arm or aid the Syrian Kurds in Kobani because of their direct relationship with the PKK which they consider a terrorist group. Things seem to be pointing in the right direction for Kobani. There is hope that IS will be driven out. A combination of coalition airstrikes, Kurds being allowed to enter from Turkey, and Iraqi Kurdish military involvement can be enough to secure victory.

 http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-iraq-kurdish-kobani-syria-20141022-story.html

An Eye for an Eye Will Only Make the Whole World Blind

The ISIS threat in Iraq has left the Iraqi government to turn to local militias to help combat ISIS. In a desperate move by the Iraqi government, local Shia militias funded and supported by the government are a major commandant against ISIS. The consequence to the support of Shia militias has put the lives of Sunni civilians in danger. Since ISIS is Sunni and is committing acts of genocide on Shia and other non-Sunni groups, revenge killings are happening to Sunni civilians. The militias are kidnapping and killing Sunni civilians as retaliation for ISIS  attacks. What is more concerning about this is the fact that the local government is not only supporting them but actually funding and arming them. There is no oversight by the government on the militias who turn are free to operate as long as they are helping fight ISIS. Sunni civilians are being dragged out of homes and disappearing. Mass graves are discovered with bodies handcuffed and with gunshots in the head suggesting execution style killings.  These revenge killings signifies increase power these militia groups are gaining since the crumbling of the Iraqi army after IS  advances. The militias have become the major combatant against IS than the actual army which has given them power to operate without a legal framework and oversight. Thousands of militiamen and growing are operating with no consequences for civilian killings. This is splitting Iraq even more between the various religious and ethnic groups. The Iraqi government should feel responsible and held accountable to the acts of the militias. Instead of arming these groups they should regroup their army which has a legal framework and follow a chain of command. There can be a point of no return where the militias will not listen to government and operate freely and commence another crisis in the future. The Iraqi government must act swiftly now before its too late.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29603272