POLYS 103 Septemer 19 Lecture 12Outline of Last Lecture I. Scotland and short articles in the Economist that tie the world into the theme of globalization. Outline of Current Lecture II. Syria/Iraq/ISISA. how are these three topics connected?III. How the US will respond to the ISIS problem, according to the EconomistIV. Iraqi governmentV. Russian influenceCurrent Lecture-side note, Scotland was rejected for independence.Syria/Iraq/ISISThis topic is even more complicated and messy than the Pakistan issueSome crucial players involved:-Iraq-Syria-Iran-Saudi Arabia-Turkey-USA-Russia-Israel-NATO-UN-Lebanon-Jordan-ethnic groups in Iraq-rebel groups in SyriaThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-Assad/Syrian government-ISIS-Sunni fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia-KurdsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.ISIS has been around for many yearsFor a time they were part of Al Qaeda in IraqThen they became a rebel group that attacked Assad, the leader of SyriaTheir goal along with other rebel groups was to continue the theme of the Arab Spring and havea revolution in Syria to overthrow the government like what happened in Egypt. Now they are a much larger group, acting in both Syria and IraqCurrently ISIS does not have a global outreach but they are recruiting westerners and the attention they are getting in the media could make them globalUS is doing a lot more towards ISIS because of public relations-air strikes-arming rebel groups (this could be a problem because weapons could fall into ISIS hands)-what US is not doing: putting troops on the groundDefeating ISIS is not a military option- no amount of guns will make ISIS like their government ISIS is getting so much support lately because the public in the key countries of Syria and Iraq are not happy with the government and are turning to ISIS as “saviorsUS is in a dilemma because A. If they help rebel groups get rid of Assad in Syria, it will be inadvertently be helping ISIS as well.B. If they get rid of ISIS, they will be helping Assad gain more power in Syria.C. If they do nothing, ISIS growAnything the US does helps one of its enemies. Also because the US is against ISIS then this puts US and Iran on the same side because Iran is also against ISIS. Iraq is a problem because their government is made up of all Shiites which are a 60% majority inIraq but the government is incredibly weak.The US is well allied with Iraq's government but building up the Iraqi government will take time which allows ISIS to growThe problem with the Iraqi government is the other 20% Sunnis and 20% Kurds don't like and don't trust the government. This is partially why they are putting their support in ISIS and notthe government. A key strategy to combat ISIS is to restore peoples faith in their government so they won't look towards radical Islamic groups for saving. ISIS is just one place that Islamic Fundamentalists challenge the status quotheir ideology/ belief structure is a problem. They don't need to go away, their power just needs to be reduced so they can be managed. Russia is key because they are on Syria's sideRussia has a military base in SyriaThey came to Assad's aid when he was being attacked by rebel groups during Syrian RevolutionPolicy over Ukraine could affect how ISIS is
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