Students comment on Middle East issues

West Chester East High School students researched and wrote about issues in the Middle East.

Students in three advanced-level world cultures classes at West Chester East High School, taught by Brian Busby, have been studying the Middle East for the past several months. The students were asked to research a current topic in the Middle East and write an opinion piece about it. The following three opinion pieces were voted as winners by the students in each class.

Fighting fire with fire

In Syria, the Kurds are fighting against the Islamic State with the help of the United States. The U.S. is currently sending troops and weapons to Syria to aid the Kurdish Militia, and the Kurds stand as their primary allies on the ground. Turkey, northern neighbor to Syria, currently has Abdullah Ocalan imprisoned, and they claim that the Kurdish Militia has ties with Abdullah Ocalan and his terrorist group: the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK). The Kurdish Militia and the U.S. both deny any affiliation with the terrorist group, but Turkey insists that their connection is undeniable. Turkey is outraged over the U.S.’s assistance, and is hoping that President Donald Trump will revise the issue and discontinue the aid going to the Militia. Together, the U.S. and the Kurds have managed to significantly decrease the amount of land that the IS controls. As of now, the U.S. has no plans of suspending their assistance and alliance. It is felt by the U.S. that the Kurdish Militia is their best ally on the ground in Syria.

The U.S. should not be aiding the Kurdish Militia. As a country, the U.S. is essentially working with one terrorist group to defeat another. This is unwise because eventually the U.S. will leave Syria, and the Kurds will be left with an advanced Militia and advanced weaponry. Also, it is going against the morals of the country and its military. The U.S. claims that they do not negotiate with terrorists, so why is it okay if they join forces with the Kurdish Militia? By aiding and working with the Kurds, the U.S. is going against everything it stands for as a country. It is as if they are saying that terrorism is okay as long as the U.S. can benefit from it. What kind of message is that sending to other countries or terrorist groups around the world? Joining forces has been effective, but the risk is too great and needs be taken into account.

The U.S. must pull its troops out of Syria. The Kurdish Militia can no longer receive aid. The U.S. risks supplying a terrorist-tied group with training and weapons that could at some point be used against them. The American troops need to be pulled out of Syria, and the U.S. has to cut all ties with the Kurdish Militia. While working with the Kurds may be the easiest way to defeat the IS, it is a dangerous deal in which the U.S. should not be involved. A new plan for defeating IS needs to be created; one that does not involve working with terrorists. There are many other powerful countries with powerful armies that could assist in the fight against IS. Working with another group or country that is not involved with terrorism, in the long run, will have a much better outcome.

Many people argue that the alliance between the U.S. and the Kurdish Militia is one that should be kept. It is effective, and since the beginning, IS has lost a significant amount of land and control. Also, due to IS being an extreme and deadly terrorist group, a majority of people, including former President Barack Obama, feel that this is the best course of action. They feel that any ties the Kurds may have with a terrorist group are outweighed by the need to defeat IS. While this makes for a strong and valid argument, the U.S. military must still pull its troops out of Syria. On a scale, the risk would very much outweigh the reward in this situation. It is a dangerous alliance and too risky of a move for the U.S. to make.

In conclusion, while there are many benefits of the U.S.’ aid to the Kurds, there are too many risks involved. The U.S. needs to pull its troops out of Syria and cut off the supply of weapons and training. They must create another plan to defeat IS. It is simply against the morals of the country to assist one terrorist group to take down another. The U.S. has to end this doomed alliance with the Kurdish Militia before it is too late. – Ashley Edmunds

Israel building in the West Bank is a global no-no

One dispute for the past 70 years has been causing beads of sweat to roll down the faces of some of the most important leaders in the world: the members of the United Nations. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been toxic since the creation of Israel and, more recently than not, has been plastered across news stations due to one warprovoking decision. Using their feelings of entitlement and religious justification, the Israelis have made the decision to neglect the will of the U.N and barrel forward with establishing new settlements in the Palestinian territory. New Jewish settlements are now the first push of a worldwide domino effect, first infuriating the Muslims in the West Bank, and then the U.N. The Israelis, plowing through Arab settlements and disregarding the U.N resolution, are fueling a fire that will eventually burst into flames of war.

On Dec. 23, 2016, 14 countries came together to form U.N resolution 2334. Similar to resolution 181 written in 1947, resolution 2334 reinforces Israel to abide by the rules declared after World War II and to cease all plans of further colonization in the West Bank. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has blatantly expressed his irritation with the decision of the U.N as well with Israel’s tongue-tied acquaintance, the United States. Israel’s ignorance towards territory borders and contempt towards the opinion of the U.N now leaves the representatives of the U.S stepping on eggshells, trying to prevent breaking their bond with Israel and the U.N. Not sure what step to take next, the U.S decided the best decision for them was to abstain from voting. This abrupt decision sent Netanyahu into a tizzy, feeding his frustration. Backfiring on the U.N, resolution 2334 ruffled Israel’s feathers and provided another reason to continue migrating into Palestinian territory.

This continuous crisis between Israel and Palestine is similar to a challenging court case the entire world is watching on television. The prosecutor, also known as Israel, has made a not-so-collective decision to sue the defendant, the Palestinian territories, due to what Israel believes is rightfully theirs. An abundance of Israelis presume that the West Bank is a part of their “Promised Land” and justly belongs to them. However, the Arabs that live in the Palestinian territories testify that they follow the will of the U.N, staying on their side of the border. The members of the U.N are witnesses in favor of the defendant, attempting to sway the decision made by the judge of time. As the rigourous battle dwindles to its end, viewers from around the world all ask the same question: what will be the verdict?

As Israel unjustly turns its cheek on the U.N and continues to build in the West Bank, one end result becomes clear: war in the Middle East. Though the Muslims in the West Bank do not have the military capacity to fight against Israel, the squabble between the two states have angered surrounding Muslim countries, putting the Middle East on the brink of war. Proven during Israel’s War of Independence, neighboring countries have fought against Israel in the past due to feelings of hatred towards the Jewish state. With Jewish settlements now providing a reason for turmoil, who is to say the chance of an outbreak is not probable again? One problem war would cause is the chance of other countries getting involved outside the Middle East. There are many connections between Middle Eastern countries and countries around the globe; therefore, war has a high possibility of resulting in an all-inclusive, worldwide war. Alliances between countries will either grow stronger or crumble, depending on whether they are Team Israel or Team Palestine. Animosity will cause severe conflicts, sucking in countries into a vortex of battle. Lives would be lost and fear instilled in the hearts of millions of people. And what would be the cause of this uncalled for bloodshed? A nation that refuses to accept its borders. For the sake of the world and Israel as a country, the Israelis need to stop building in the West Bank. – Kendall Diaz

Emerging from the rubble

In times of darkness, the generosity that comes out of people can be remarkable. White helmets in Syria are examples of courage in the wake of terror, hate, and death. These ordinary people should not have to be risking their lives every day. They save adults and babies while living in constant fear that the next baby uncovered from the rubble could be their own. The act of bravery is defined by the white helmets. Not only do they search for survivors after bombings, but also face the possibility of being bombed again while they are rescuing others. Today, Syria is full of killing and devastation, which make stories of peaceful heroes like the white helmets enlightening. Yet, the white helmets should not be called heroes. They should not have to go into a warzone voluntarily in the first place. The question is whether the United States should bother sending troops rather than just money to help the white helmets. But, war is not that simple, and making decisions in war are not any easier.

The U.S. should send troops to Syria to help the white helmets because it would save more lives. People may oppose this idea because of the deaths that will be caused in the U.S. troops. Another opposing viewpoint could be that without weapons, the risk of death is even higher. Some may say that sending troops would not be productive since there are more lives on the line with more volunteers. There is also the hazard that bombers would bomb with more aim for destruction when they hear of the U.S. troops in Syria. In addition, Syrians are living in such constant havoc would it even be worth it to risk one’s life to save another that could be bombed again the next day? These reasons were part of former President Barack Obama’s refusal to send U.S. troops to Syria at the beginning of the conflict. He is shattered by the events taking place but says it would be more important to keep the troops out of another fight. Though, the answer to sending troops is not so much a matter of politics but a matter of genuine human care.

The amount of valor white helmets possess after a bomb strikes is incredible. These regular people putting themselves in danger to save victims they do not even know. White helmets are showing the most authentic human emotion towards others: sacrifice. They are the ideal picture of how humans should treat each other. Although the circumstances they are under are the opposite of that picture, white helmets exemplify the kind of care the world needs more of. Sending U.S. troops to Syria would expand this human unity that could make the world a better place. Not only could they help the white helmets and victims of bombings, but also spread the idea of love and need for humanity in times of desperation.

People need people. It is possible the victims the white helmets save could be bombed the next day, but what if they are not? Wouldn’t it be better to be safe than sorry by sending troops that will ultimately save more lives? Not sending troops just because people could be killed a day after they are rescued would truly jeopardize lives. Humans are on earth to help others. In today’s world this concept has become scattered because of fear and unacceptance. The solidarity of the two different groups for something that is not direct fighting could show those who are fearful or unaccepting that when people come together in virtue, more harmony is produced than evil.

Even if U.S. volunteers lose their lives, they are not doing it in war and hatred, but in the honor of a heroic movement. A movement that, in the end, will have saved more lives than lost. It will show the world that people are not all that different. Humans do not want heartache and devastation; therefore, it is not impossible to work together with others and create solidarity. U.S. troops assisting white helmets in Syria would save more lives and express the beauty in unification. It is better to die in contentedness out of helping people than to watch others die and know something could have been done.

– Sophia Mangasarian