A year ago, U.S. President Barack Obama tried to justify why his country dealt with the Iraqi and Syrian crises differently after sending drones, consultants and arms to Iraq and just humanitarian aid- such as like blankets and medicine – to Syria. He said his administration was committed to Iraq’s security because the country represents a strategic value to the U.S. and that dealing with Syria will remain limited to political and humanitarian levels as there were no plans for America to become further involved.
Most governments speak about an Iraq and a Syria; however this divide is merely based on old maps and it’s no longer tangible on the ground. There are no borders, border guards, passports and armies separating Iraq and Syria from each other. Many checkpoints have merely become stops to fund ISIS militants and other fighters crossing into and out of Anbar province. War and terrorism have united both countries. And so, ISIS proves to be accurate in calling itself the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.”