ISIS on the Rise

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I write about ISIS and the real threat that it poses to the United States and to the legacy that President Obama is working to establish during the final years of his presidency:

ISIS ON THE RISE

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

As he attempts to counteract the characterizations of him as a “lame duck,” President Obama is facing an array of struggles. As the de facto head of the Democratic Party, he suffered an ignominious defeat in the 2014 midterm elections as Democratic candidates across the country were felled by a Republican tsunami that gave the GOP a sweeping mandate and control of the United States Senate. At home, the President is mired in a debate about immigration reform that puts him at odds with the newly empowered Republican congressional leadership. Our Commander-in-Chief is also desperately seeking to avoid a complete collapse of the nuclear talks with Iran, a sensitive international issue that is on the front burner of his foreign policy agenda.

Yet, for all of the political and policy problems that stand in President Obama’s way, there is one issue that essentially trumps everything else. The elephant in the room is the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or “ISIS” as it is commonly known.

What began as an offshoot of al Qaeda has morphed into one of the biggest terrorist threats facing the world today. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS is spreading its brand of terror far and wide.

As a result of a brazen land grab that seemingly took everyone by surprise, ISIS now exerts control over large portions of northern and western Iraq and has solidified its presence and authority in Syria as well.

In what has become its modus operandi, ISIS routinely carries out mass killings and public executions. Earlier this week, we learned that ISIS beheaded Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, who became the fifth known Western hostage that was decapitated by ISIS in an unthinkable act of barbarism.

The horrific fate that befell Peter Kassig, as well as U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, are shocking not just by virtue of the gruesome fashion in which they were executed, but also by the manner in which we learned of their tragic ends.

In a testament to the sick and sadistic nature of this terrorist group, ISIS informed the world of these deaths by releasing videos showing the beheading of each of the hostages. The audacity of ISIS in proudly publicizing these ghastly murders is staggering, but it is their callous disregard for human life and their proclivity for pain and torture that is especially disconcerting.

What is remarkable is that despite President Obama’s efforts to combat ISIS through the use of targeted air strikes in Iraq and Syria, ISIS appears to be more powerful than ever.

Just one week ago, an audio recording of a man purporting to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was circulated, in which he openly mocked the United States and its coalition partners. Calling the U.S. “terrified, weak and powerless,” al-Baghdadi said that the American effort to destroy ISIS has been a “failure.”

At this juncture, there is a great degree of truth to that statement. We have seen indications that ISIS is expanding, not waning. In September, the CIA declared that although initial intelligence reports indicated that ISIS had approximately 10,000 fighters in its ranks, the number is actually in excess of 31,000 fighters.

Contrary to what you may think, ISIS does not just employ homegrown terrorists. As time goes on, they are drawing terror troops from all around the world. For example, in the video showing the beheading of Peter Kassig, there were men from England and France who were among the executioners. There are estimates that several thousand Westerners have signed up to join ISIS. The idea that foreign-born militants are gravitating to ISIS is a genuine cause for concern and further proof of the allure that this terrorist group has for individuals who possess a sick and twisted penchant for unadulterated evil.

The sophistication and adeptness that ISIS has demonstrated in the social media realm is remarkable. They skillfully utilize platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp to effectively disseminate their propaganda. The videos they circulate are semi-professional in nature. In an effort to reach a vast audience, ISIS sometimes posts statements and materials in multiple languages. We are able to somewhat track ISIS’s actions not necessarily because of American intelligence, but because ISIS is hiding in plain sight in the social media world for everyone to see. We are able to closely follow ISIS’ activities because they consciously and calculatedly make it easy for us to do so.

With a well-oiled PR machine and an infusion of new fighters eager to join their jihad, ISIS presents a real challenge to the United States, and, more specifically, to President Obama. The U.S. air strikes persist, but ISIS perseveres. There is of course the possibility that the President may send in ground troops to supplement the air strikes and attempt to hit the nucleus of ISIS’ terror operations. However, that directive may very well result in a prolonged military conflict that could have dire consequences for American forces.

As President Obama works to cement his legacy over the last two years of his presidency, the public nuisance that is ISIS is going to plague him throughout the duration of his tenure. Regardless of whether he focuses on domestic policy or sets his sights on accomplishments in the foreign policy arena, ISIS is going to cast a long shadow over the President’s endeavors. The grave threat that ISIS poses to the United States and to the world cannot be understated and cannot be overlooked.

ISIS may be sophisticated, but they are not invincible. If President Obama wants to fulfill his pledge to eradicate ISIS, the United States is going to have to do a better job both militarily and in the media. In order for the President to put ISIS on ice and freeze its ability to perpetrate acts of terror, it is going to take much more than air strikes that seemingly have little effect on this enigmatic terrorist organization. How we can best defeat ISIS may be open for debate, but the exigent need to do so is undisputed.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler

The GOP Kingmaker

In my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, I consider Governor Chris Christie’s strong showing on Election Day in his capacity as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and assess how his performance will impact his 2016 presidential prospects:

THE GOP KINGMAKER

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

Election Day 2014 is a day that most Democrats would like to forget. The Republicans swept into the majority in the Senate with a huge mandate and a sensational surge that absolutely decimated and disheartened Democrats across the United States.

While much of the attention was on national politics as control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance, there were many hotly contested gubernatorial races that had huge implications in quite a number of states. When all of the votes were counted, the Republican trend that manifested itself on the national level was replicated in statehouses across the nation.

While the GOP emerged victorious in twenty-six gubernatorial contests, sixteen of those races had a common link. The thread that tied those particular contests together was Chris Christie.

For all of those New Jersey residents who have been wondering where their Governor has been since he was re-elected in November 2013, the answer became very apparent on Election Day. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Christie has spent approximately a third of his second term outside of the Garden State. Instead of focusing exclusively on governing, Christie has spent a considerable amount of time traversing the country and campaigning on behalf of other Republican gubernatorial candidates.

Out of the shadow of Bridgegate and his state’s fiscal issues, Chris Christie has had the opportunity to bask in the glow of the national spotlight. Under Christie’s leadership, the Republican Governors Association has flourished, raising a staggering $106 million in just one year. As chairman, Christie has traveled to thirty-six states, including an incredible pre-Election Day swing that took him to nineteen states in five days, including such key battlegrounds as Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. With thirty-six gubernatorial races on tap, Chris Christie was a virtual one-man political campaign machine, and when the dust settled on Election Day after the polls closed, it became apparent that Christie had the Midas touch.

Not only did Chris Christie help many incumbent Republican governors retain their seats on Election Day, he also played a pivotal role in enabling the GOP to win the keys to the Governor’s Mansion in Arkansas and Illinois, which had previously been held by Democrats.

In a sign of just how pivotal Chris Christie’s role was in scoring huge wins for Republican candidates, he made triumphant appearances on several national television news shows on the morning after Election Day to trumpet the GOP’s victories and further bolster his image as a key Republican kingmaker.

Other than being able to pat himself on the back, what does all of this mean for Chris Christie? More specifically, how does this impact Christie’s yearning desire to relocate to the big white house on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington?

The fact is that Chris Christie’s tremendous showing on Election Day solidified his spot as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Not only did he notch some impressive victories on November 4, he also buttressed his growing national network of big GOP donors and top Republican operatives. By visiting so many states that will play critical roles in 2016, Chris Christie got a big jump on his potential Republican presidential rivals by establishing early connections with the voters and political leaders whose support they all covet.

Additionally, there are now Republican elected officials across the country who presumably feel indebted to Chris Christie for his political and financial assistance. When the calendar turns to 2016 and the presidential primary season is in full swing, you can be sure that Chris Christie will make the rounds to collect on all of these invaluable political IOU’s.

Chris Christie’s tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association has provided him with a unique opportunity to flaunt his fund raising prowess and display his keen political acumen. It has given him a much needed respite from the controversies that have dogged him in New Jersey and enabled him to prove to big Republican donors and GOP leaders that he is a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

While other possible Republican presidential candidates jockey for position and contend with one another for media attention and national prominence, for the moment, Chris Christie has set himself apart by skillfully leveraging his chairmanship to get tangible results for GOP candidates.

Although he himself was not on the ballot on Election Day, Chris Christie scored what was perhaps one of the biggest victories of the day. Christie flexed his political muscles and proved that he belongs in the ring with the other GOP hopefuls who are seeking to one day take home the ultimate championship belt.

Yes, Governor Christie undoubtedly has major issues to contend with in New Jersey and all eyes will inevitably be on him as he attempts to navigate the choppy political waters in his home state. However, Christie has the luxury of heading towards 2016 with an aura of invincibility after his virtuoso performance in the midterm elections. He will certainly be judged by his ability to govern effectively, but that will not necessarily be the primary factor that will come to define Chris Christie in the context of presidential conversations.

Chris Christie’s legacy will be his role as a GOP kingmaker, which is what is going to catapult him to the front of the pack. It is safe to assume that there will be a bruising battle for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, but barring any future scandals or major mishaps by the New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie may be positioned to pick up the ultimate win.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler