THE DRUMS OF WAR
Re: For ISIS, Slaughter Is An End In Itself, Roger Cohen, Sept. 30; One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, Clifford D. May, Oct. 2. As I read Roger Cohen’s insightful analysis of Western attempts to “understand” terrorist groups such as ISIS, I was stunned by the last paragraph, in which he implies that we need to ally ourselves with Iran, in order to defeat ISIS. Although there are indeed some parallels with the alliance we forged with the U.S.S.R. to defeat the Nazis during the Second World War, his conclusion is still troubling. It took Clifford D. May’s piece to remind me, and I hope also remind U.S. President Barack Obama, just how serious an enemy Iran is, given its track record of inter- national terrorism. If the current negotiations to stop Iran’s development of nuclear weapons ends in a feckless compromise, we will be dealing with a much more dangerous version of ISIS.
S. David Rosner, London, Ont.
Re: The Politics Of War, John Ivison, Oct. 2. It seems as if ISIS has expanded its religious campaign, not just in Iraq and Syria, but right into our homes, by sending a message for ISIS members to attack civilians as they see fit. The innocent public that has taken notice of ISIS probably believes that they are terrorists in the name of Islam and God. Yes, they definitely are terrorists, but they are not followers of Islam, or any faith, for that matter. Canada has joined an alliance with the U.S and several other countries that intend to end this horrid situation and ultimately put an end to ISIS. But, it doesn’t stop there. As the government takes action, it is the responsibility of the public to take action, as well. I encourage the public to learn more about Islam from books, radio and scholarly articles, not from ISIS.
Imran Mohammad, Toronto.
We should not send Canadian combat troops to Iraq and Syria, because there are already millions of fighters available in neighbouring countries. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran should be sending troops, not Canada or NATO. We should con- centrate on imprisoning the terrorists here in Canada.
Paul Cerar, Toronto.
Re: Security-State Incompetence On Parade, Father Raymond J. de Souza, Oct. 2. Father Raymond J. de Souza ought to have realized by now that President Barack Obama doesn’t need the U.S. security establishment to make him look “like a fool.”
For over a year, he had been warned countless times about the looming threat of ISIS. Mr. Obama has a psychological impairment that blindly drives him to rearrange reality to suit his own world view, regardless of the reallife consequences.
A. John Boehmer, Gatineau, Que.
Re: Desert Power, letters to the editor, Oct. 2. As Islamist terrorists work diligently to establish a worldwide caliphate, why do Canadian “progressives” denounce combat as a means to stop the scourge, while calling for a resumption of “peacekeeping” missions by the Canadian military? Will these naive idealists ever learn the grim reality of pacifism that resulted in 60 million deaths during the Second World War and is currently responsible for hundreds of thousands of victims of jihadis? Ask retired Lieutenant- General Romeo Dallaire about the success of our “peacekeeping” mission in Rwanda?
Warren Adamson, Mississauga, Ont.