The refugee crisis on the Iraqi mountain is literally the tip of the iceberg [“Syria strikes militants as US targets them in Iraq,” Nation & World, Aug. 19].

We have done the absolute minimum to deal with the crisis, just enough to prevent imminent slaughter. the Islamic State was not dealt with by Iraq, and our support of Iraq will not change this cause of the current crisis. The Islamic State has land, money and weapons, which used to be owned by Iraq. It poses a serious terrorist threat to nations in the West and the Middle East.

The artificial nation of Iraq is no more. Acceptance of this reality is a bitter pill indeed. We have purchased some time at a very high price that will be paid in the future. That is OK. We shouldn’t foot the bill alone.

The elimination of the Islamic State would require a campaign similar to the Gulf War. Until a coalition of the threatened nations respond with blood and treasure, things will continue to worsen. Sad, but true.

Joe Martin, Sequim