Restore peace to the Fertile Crescent
With the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham gaining another foothold in Iraq, Iraqi leaders need to affirm the country's unity.
![A man walks past near remains of burnt vehicles belonging to Iraqi security forces in the northern Iraq city of Mosul A man walks past near remains of burnt vehicles belonging to Iraqi security forces in the northern Iraq city of Mosul, June 13, 2014. A Sunni Islamist offensive threatening to dismember Iraq seemed to slow on Saturday after days of lightning advances as government forces reported regaining territory in counter-attacks, easing pressure on Baghdad's Shi'ite-led government. Picture taken June 13, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTR3TR9S](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/06/RTR3TR9S.jpg/RTR3TR9S.jpg?h=e92c5d5c&itok=blioPJIc)
In general, the Arabs have always described Syria and Iraq as the Fertile Crescent. Sadly, this description is no longer viable or applicable.
With the fall of Mosul — Iraq's second largest city after Baghdad — and ISIS's thrust toward Baghdad, the sudden crumbling of the Iraqi army took Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government and others by total surprise.