YES

by Benjamin Sellers

Throughout our history as a nation, Americans have come to understand first hand what evil can do to the world and what evil can become if it goes left unchecked.

The United States is a nation that has answered the calls of the weak, and has become known as the home of the brave.

Today, the U.S. faces a grave situation in Iraq and Syria. The terrorist organization referred to as ISIS is known for its brutal executions of prisoners of war and slaughtering of the Yazidi people.

The U.S. has a chance here to stop this evil organization from killing more people in both countries. America needs to fight ISIS with an expanded campaign of boots on the ground and air strikes.

ISIS is a threat to humanity and needs to be eradicated off the face of the Earth. If the U.S. is going to fight a war, then it needs to fight a war to win that war.

The U.S. needs to understand that in order to fight an enemy as brutal as ISIS, it is going to take our full commitment in combat, not just air strikes.

My issue with an air strikes-only approach is we are unable to clearly launch a successful offensive against the militants. This is a dangerous situation that we are in right now, with the lack of coordination how are we expected to push ISIS back?

Americans need to understand that we are at war with ISIS and we need to take the steps necessary to deal with this threat.

The U.S. needs to be able to expand the current strategy it has and take the appropriate steps to fight an enemy that is very well armed and has a high morale running through its ranks.

According to BusinessInsider.com, ISIS has captured American and Soviet military equipment. This terror organization now has tanks, Humvees, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns.

This equipment is used in all professional militaries around the world, and has allowed mostly nations to effectively deploy troops. ISIS now has this capability since it has captured this equipment.

America’s first priority should be to eliminate the offensive equipment that ISIS has captured from the Syrian and Iraqi armed forces. This equipment has helped ISIS seize territory by using blitzkrieg style offensive tactics in June.

If ISIS continues to use this equipment, it can win battles and seize more equipment to fuel their war machine.

Opponents would argue that the costs of war should be a reason why we should limit the war to only air strikes. Right now according to BusinessInsider.com we spend $7-$10 million a day with an air campaign that is less effective and is not working to push ISIS back.

America needs to not limit our military’s capabilities based on the costs of war. We need to develop the mentality of doing anything to beat this enemy of ours and end the mission, when it is completed.

How can you put a price tag on an offensive that is protecting lives in Iraq and Syria from ISIS, which slaughters those who do not agree with them?

If we are to commit fully to a war with ISIS, the American people are going to need to accept the price of war. Each and every American needs to understand that we are protecting American interests in oil as well and protecting the lives of innocent Iraqi and Syrian civilians who are caught and persecuted by ISIS.

If the U.S. allows ISIS to march into other parts of the Middle East, the cost of living will go up due to a run on oil. ISIS has already captured oil refineries in Northern Iraq and sells that oil on the black market to fund their war machine.

According to ISIS, it is at war with America. We need to recognize that we have an enemy and it is time to take the fight seriously.

We need to commit boots on the ground to effectively coordinate air strikes against ISIS positions, and to successfully eliminate this organization of evil once and for all.

NO

by Radeen Shemirani

As ISIS continues to affect both the Middle East and the world, it’s becoming more apparent that the United States should not become directly involved in this conflict.

It comes to a point where it isn’t just a decision for the government to make, but a stance that Americans have to take. Do Americans want increased involvement in the ISIS situation?

No we don’t, and here’s why.

As of Oct. 12 , the United States and allies such as France, Britain, Turkey, and Belgium have initiated air strikes and acts of retaliation against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. These countries see the problem in hand and side with the U.S. in their decision with air strikes.

But the questions of involvement and issues can be viewed on a local scale. Should the United States become more involved in the fight on the “Islamic State” for our own intentions?

Over the summer, President Obama stated at a press conference that he would do whatever was necessary to end the threats against the United States.

But does that include solitary involvement of the U.S. against ISIS?

According to CNN.com, no U.S. Senator has approved or brought up the idea of sending in United States troops into the Middle East because the Senate does not like the idea of repeating history with the Iraq war, which lasted almost a decade and cost the country billions of dollars and countless American lives.

Joining several other countries, President Obama has given the go ahead to air strikes against ISIS. But that’s the key to our involvement.

Air strikes do not involve U.S. ground troops and cost a lot less than sending troops and equipment across the globe to fight yet another war.

The U.S. already has a long list of countries that are ready and willing to send air strikes at ISIS locations.

In doing so, this keeps a big country such as the U.S. involved with this global issue without sacrificing lives, government time, and the funding of a military program that could be better resolved.

As America spends more money on a war, the U.S. economy slowly starts to decline. Gas prices rise, food prices skyrocket, and life for the average American becomes increasingly difficult.

There is no way that America being involved  in this conflict will benefit us. You can see how situations like this have played out in the history of our country.

Think about all of the previous wars in which the U.S. has been involved. The Vietnam War comes to mind as a perfect example.

Citizens protested the war to an extent where the government’s decision was based directly on the people’s voice, not a proper vote to pull out of the war.

Voting on ending a war isn’t a voting category in this country, yet it was decided the U.S. would pull out of Vietnam.

The U.S.-Iraq war, where billions of dollars were spent and countless American lives were lost all because of a suspicion of weapons of mass destruction that were never found. We eventually pulled out of this war as a way to keep the peace.

We spent almost 9 years in Iraq, chasing something we weren’t sure existed. Citizens eventually protested the war when President Obama took office and worked on bringing troops back to the U.S.

President Obama stated on Sept. 28, that “This will not be another Iraq war,” according to the Huffington Post. “We’re not sending in tens of thousands of troops on the ground.

“U.S. troops do not and will not have a combat mission against the ‘Islamic State,’” he continued.

It’s obvious to see that sending in ground troops and upping our involvement in this terror will only result in a repetition of our past history in wars, which have always been a negative part of U.S. history.