Stopping the destruction

President Barack Obama said there “is no quick fix to the crisis” in Iraq after the US’ aerial strikes against the fast-advancing forces of the so-called Islamic State deep into Kurdish territory.

The extremist group is steadily creeping in the north of the country, threatening even the Kurdish capital Erbil, spreading death in its wake, mostly among minorities, but also among Sunnis who are not to its liking.

The threat needs quick address, but with no Iraqi army at the ready, the US attacks can only act as a temporary deterrent.

“I don’t think we’re going to solve the problem in weeks,” said the US president at the White House, which clearly puts the onus on the Baghdad government.

Washington wants Baghdad to put its house in order and form a unity government. While that would be ideal, under the prevailing circumstances in Iraq it is also quite impossible.

A temporary solution might be an emergency government that may be able to mobilise some forces to stop the advance of the Islamic State.

The international community seems to believe that there is still time to stop the Islamic State’s forward movement, but even if that were true — and it might wait until it is too late, as it did in other cases in dire need of attention — many in Iraq will have fallen prey to the cruelty of these hordes, or, in the case of those who manage to escape, to famine and thirst.

It is time to stop the massacres the Islamic State militias commit against minorities, and their advances in northern Iraq.

This is going to take more than isolated air strikes; it needs sustained military effort of all able powers, including of the US and its allies.

Time is of the essence. The first priority now is to defeat the Islamic State. It has already seized the Mosul dam, the biggest in Iraq, and this alone enables it to flooding the country or cut off electricity.

This ruthless militia has crossed the line on many fronts. It has to be contained, for it is a threat to humanity.