Headline News 10/08/2016

Headlines:

• ISIS: 2 Years on
• Deep Holes Surface in the World’s Largest Democracy

Details:

ISIS: 2 Years on

Monday marks two years since the US-led coalition began air strikes against ISIS, however ISIS yet survives. In August 2014, the United States and its coalition partners began an air campaign against ISIS, with the coalition stating that it had launched nearly 15,000 strikes against the militia since it began its campaign. But watchdog groups say the air strikes have also killed hundreds of civilians, that number looks likely to be in the thousands, when considering the various knee-jerk reactions to attacks on western soil. The campaign against ISIS was launched at a time when its excursions into the North of Iraq were being provocative, the airstrikes merely shaped the direction ISIS took. The purpose was not to destroy ISIS but to use it as a tool to justify various domestic and foreign policies at home. France killed hundreds of innocent civilians following the Paris attacks and the concern was next to zero from the western media. Just last month the US airstrikes in Syria killed yet more civilians and zero ISIS members, with the death of the innocent being shrugged off as a mistake. Had the coalition wanted to destroy ISIS they would have launched a ground offensive, but a group that helps justify draconian policy is an asset to be used, especially since ISIS claims responsibility for every random attack that occurs in the world.

Deep Holes Surface in the World’s Largest Democracy

On 5th August in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India a 20 year old Dalit woman was found dead. Her perpetrators are suspected to be two men from a higher caste who raped the woman before killing her. The Dalits, formerly known as the untouchables have recently received worldwide coverage as their position amongst the lowest castes in India automatically subjects them to persecution. The Hindu caste system, built on a culture of separation which also stretches to race and religion has resulted in the Dalits being subject to severe persecution which has been backed by all sectors of society including those in power. Hindu ministers whilst openly declaring their distaste for the caste system encourage their followers to abide by it. For a country which claims to look after places like Kashmir and boasts about the fact that its land contains a variety of cultures, the reality points to the contrary.