Build a Coalition against the Islamic State

Published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun
(Japan) on 8 September 2014
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Sanders. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
The radical Islamic group Islamic State is spreading its influence. It controls the large land area extending into Iraq and Syria, and has repeatedly committed inhumane acts against the people of that region. It shared a video of the murder of an American journalist on the Internet.

It is an unacceptable act of barbarism. The rise of an extremist group that disrupts public order through brute force is a common threat to the international community. An international coalition must be constructed as soon as possible to bring the violence under control and prevent the spread of terrorism.

The Islamic State touts nation-building in line with Islamic doctrine. There are more than 10,000 combatants; a great number of Westerners drawn to extremist ideology have joined as well. There is also a risk that they will return to their countries and commit acts of terrorism [there].

The international community must cooperate to eliminate the threat. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit meeting affirmed the threat of the Islamic State crossing international borders. The U.N.'s role is also important.

U.S. forces continue airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraqi territory and have achieved positive results. The United States is purported to be exploring the possibility of airstrikes in Syrian territory through a "coalition of the willing" with European and Middle Eastern countries. Airstrikes in Iraq alone are certainly not enough to clear up the extremist group's influence, which moves freely through Iraq and Syria.

However, there are many issues with airstrikes in Syria. Military activities in Iraq are based on the approval of that country's government. In contrast, the United States is in opposition with Syria's Assad regime. Cooperation with the ground forces essential to recovering areas under Islamic State control cannot be expected. Let us call for careful judgment regarding airstrikes.

It is also important to cut off the flow of funds supporting Islamic State activities. Illegal transactions with petroleum produced from oil fields in Islamic State-controlled areas, as well as contributions from wealthy supporters from Middle Eastern nations are believed to be sources of Islamic State funding. These possible sources must be monitored.

The Islamic State cleverly uses the Internet and social media to disseminate information and gather combatants. An international alliance is necessary to hinder propaganda efforts and to prevent young Westerners from joining the Islamic State.


「イスラム国」の包囲網を築け

2014/9/8付

 イスラム過激派組織「イスラム国」が勢力を広げている。イラクとシリアにまたがる広大な土地を実効支配し、支配地域の住民に非人道的な行為を重ねている。米国人ジャーナリストを殺害する映像もネット上で公開した。

 許されぬ蛮行である。社会の秩序を力ずくで破壊する過激派の台頭は、国際社会にとって共通の脅威だ。暴力を押さえ込み、テロの拡散を防ぐ国際的な包囲網を早急に築かねばならない。

 「イスラム国」はイスラム教の教義に沿った国づくりを掲げる。戦闘員は1万人を超え、過激思想に引きつけられた米欧出身者も多数加わっている。彼らが自国に戻り、テロ行為に及ぶ懸念もある。

 国際社会が連携し排除にあたらねばならない。北大西洋条約機構(NATO)首脳会議では「イスラム国が国境を越えた脅威」だと確認した。国連の役割も重要だ。

 米軍はイラク領内で「イスラム国」に対する空爆を続け、一定の成果を上げている。米国は欧州や中東諸国との「有志連合」によるシリア領内の空爆も探っているとされる。イラクとシリアを自由に移動する過激派勢力の掃討には、イラク領内の空爆だけでは不十分なのは確かだ。

 ただし、シリアへの空爆には問題も多い。イラクでの軍事行動は同国政府の承認に基づいている。これに対し米国はシリアのアサド政権と敵対する。「イスラム国」の支配地奪還に欠かせない地上部隊との連携は期待できない。空爆には慎重な判断が求められよう。

 活動を支える資金の流れを断つことも重要だ。支配地域にある油田で産出する石油の違法取引や、中東諸国などの富裕な支援者からの献金が資金源になっているとみられている。これらを監視しなければならない。

 「イスラム国」はインターネットやソーシャルメディアを巧みに使って情報を発信し、戦闘員を集めている。宣伝工作を阻止し、欧米の若者を参加させないようにする国際的な連携が必要だ。
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