Airstrikes on ISIS are getting us nowhere

I am dismayed over President Obama's plans to expand airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS). While violence acted out by ISIS militants in recent weeks on American journalists and the plight of Iraqi civilians demand action, there are effective, nonmilitary responses that can address the conflict.

We've seen 10 years of U.S. war in Iraq - and at what cost? Renewed airstrikes only continue this bloodshed and enable violent militant groups like the Islamic State to recruit supporters. As Lebanon Daily Star columnist Rami Khouri notes, the "global war on terror (has) sparked the greatest expansion of Islamist militancy and terrorism in modern history."

What's the alternative? The U.S. should invest in humanitarian assistance by providing food and needed supplies in coordination with the United Nations. Also, hit ISIS where it hurts: the wallet. Cracking down on Turkish, Iraqi and other oil dealers who are purchasing ISIS' oil on the black market would cut ISIS off from its most important revenue stream. Prevent weapons from flowing into Iraq and Syria by pushing countries like Turkey to intercept the flow of fighters and weapons across its border with Syria. If the international community worked with key regional players, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Russia, to take independent initiatives and meaningful steps toward an arms embargo, it would help bring an end to the conflict.

Ultimately, ISIS will flourish as long as its militants maintain popular support. Ending the Syrian civil war and bringing Sunnis back into the Iraqi political process are essential to driving a wedge between ISIS and the local population. ISIS thrives because of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, which are fueled by foreign interests. Resolving these conflicts demands American diplomacy, not American bombs.

Br. Michael Gosch, CSV

Arlington Heights