An entity as evil as the Islamic State cannot be left to flourish.
Opinion
No New Zealand government should commit troops to a war zone without a clear awareness of the ramifications. In the case of the fight against the Islamic State, the consequences could be particularly grim.
The barbaric treatment of prisoners signals the fate of any New Zealander who falls into its
hands. Then there is the manner in which New Zealand's involvement will heighten the chances of terrorism on home shores. Finally, there is the reality that our troops will make little difference in a conflict that defies easy answers. Nonetheless, the Government has made the right call in committing more than 100 regular soldiers to a non-combat training mission at Taji Camp, north of Baghdad.
For some time, the Prime Minister insisted that sending troops was his "least preferred option". In that, John Key reflected the concerns of President Barack Obama who sought initially to limit the United States' re-involvement. But much has changed in a few months, and just as President Obama has reassessed his policy, so New Zealand has greater reason to become involved.
The most powerful reason for sending soldiers is the just nature of the cause. Whatever the doubts about the Iraqi Government and the eventual make-up of the region, an entity as evil as the Islamic State cannot be left to flourish. In the past few weeks, the increasingly horrific nature of its behaviour has confirmed that. The international community cannot allow atrocities to proceed unchecked.
Some have been intimidated. But, most tellingly, the Islamic State's barbarity has triggered the greater military involvement of Jordan and prompted Egypt to join the American-led aerial bombing campaign. Its actions and ideology have left it isolated, with any prospect of geographical spread severely dented by the success of the air strikes.
