Encumbered
Keval Bavishi, reporting from the CJTF: OIR (Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve) interviewed the Commander of the Forces, Anirudh Vaidhyaa, who presided over the sessions of the council.
Reporter: How successful would you say has the Phase IV been? Has it played out according to your envisioned plan?
Anirudh Vaidhyaa: As observed in the Committee, there is an evident deadlock in the council. The particular conflict of opinions has not allowed the council to progress as the Commanders would have wanted. Even when you look at the previous phases, there is always a gap between the mission target and the objectives achieved. If you look at all the phases, a part of the previous phase is still running in parallel with the present phase. Though, the perpetual lack of trust among the members has now become a point of concern, and hence proven to be detrimental. The lack of trust needs to be balanced, in a way that both self interests and the coalition interests go hand in hand. About the other part of the question, I believe that it hasn’t really played out according to the envisioned plan. The plan was to proactively deal with the crises at hand, but amidst the mistrust and doubts, the delegates lost their way. Apart from the delegate of Iraq, the committee seemed to not adhere to the actual vision of the CJTF, therefore causing minor setbacks.
Reporter: What do you think has been holding back the coalition from achieving its full potential?
Anirudh Vaidhyaa: As I said previously, the coalition has failed to rise above differing opinions. As like any other democratic process, the way things are discussed in the CJTF are time consuming. Though, it is pretty normal for any democratic setup. One thing the committee should focus on is the co-ordination among them. As a Combined Task Force, the level of cohesion required is much higher than presently showcased. The delegates also need to understand that policies need to be accommodating and co-operative. Holding extremely rigid stances in any coalition will bear no fruit, and hence will end up wasting crucial committee time. This is one of the main reasons the committee has been held back, factors which could have been dealt with better.
Reporter: Do you think that an end can be put to the ISIS ideology, even if they are not actively indulged in warfare?
Anirudh Vaidhyaa: The most critical aspect that worked for ISIS is how quickly it transformed from a localized rebellion to a global phenomenon. The reason this ideology even came into existence was because of the resentment against the Western world in the minds of the Middle Eastern masses. The sentiment grew stronger with every passing day, especially due to the lack of proper education. Though, I firmly believe we can put an end to the ideology for once and all. The CJTF needs to organize an extensive campaign once the ISIS has been militarily eliminated. The purpose of the campaign shall be educating people, giving them the exposure to the right and the wrong. Though, this also needs to be complemented by a stable government, people friendly policies, and free access to basic amenities.
Reporter: What do you believe should be the legal process for companies found guilty of trading with the ISIS?
Anirudh Vaidhyaa: The legal process actually depends on the concerned nation itself. There are multiple policies in place which bar companies from engaging with rogue organizations. Especially in the case of France, where 11 companies were taken to court and received severe punishments for signing an oil deal with the ISIS. Though, I do believe that this is not exactly an issue to worry about for the CJTF and in fact depends on the respective states whose companies are accused.
