U.S. Deploys Search and Rescue Helicopters to Iraq in ISIS Fight

      The article I chose to write about was titled "U.S. sends search and rescue helicopters to Iraq in ISIS fight." It was written on February 4, 2015, in response to a murder by ISIS of a Jordanian pilot. The article discusses the decision of the Pentagon to place more search and rescue helicopters in northern Iraq, in order to reduce the time it takes to locate crashed pilots. Other countries have already began pulling their aircrafts out of the area due to the threat posed by ISIS forces. 

      This new policy stemmed from a murder orchestrated by ISIS forces, and a video released by ISIS of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh which I'm sure we'll talk about later in class. He was captured by ISIS in December when his f-16 crashed over Syria. Not only does the video show the Lietunent being burned alive, but it also contains verbal threats to other Syrian pilots. U.S. officials stated that the United Arab Emirates, an important group in fighting ISIS, has completely stopped flying combat missions over ISIS territory after Kaseasbeh's capture. They have also said that every effort was made to recover the downed pilot and as soon as his plane went down an intensive search was initiated. Jordanian forces are still leading bombing attacks against ISIS. 

      After reading this article I am disgusted by ISIS. I strongly believe that we should put more troops into northern Iraq and support the Pentagon's decision of sending more search and rescue helicopters. The more military units we have fighting against ISIS forces, and looking for injured, crashed, or M.I.A. pilots the better. If we continue to put in search and rescue units, there will be a significantly smaller chance of downed pilots being captured and murdered.  

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-deploys-search-and-rescue-helicopters-to-iraq-in-isis-fight/

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