As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the U.S. also lays claim to the world’s most powerful military.

The American led “Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve” has laid claim to the following strikes in Iraq, having taken place since their previous report in March (2016): 

1. Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and suppressed two ISIL tactical units.
2. Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL bunker.
3. Near Hit, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL tactical vehicles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), two ISIL rocket rails, and an ISIL vehicle.
4. Near Kisik, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL supply cache, and three ISIL rocket rails and suppressed an ISIL sniper position.
5. Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
6. Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed two ISIL supply caches and an ISIL headquarters.
7. Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL supply cache and suppressed an ISIL rocket position. [01]

What exactly constitutes a strike?

According to Defense Media Activity (DMA), a strike is: Multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use.

Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Iraq include:

1. Australia,
2. Belgium,
3. Canada,
4. Denmark,
5. France,
6. Jordan,
7. Netherlands,
8. United Kingdom,
9. United States of America.

Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include:

1. Australia,
2. Bahrain,
3. Canada,
4. France,
5. Jordan,
6. Netherlands,
7. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
8. Turkey,
9. United Arab Emirates,
10. United Kingdom,
11. United States of America.

Countries which have conducted independent strikes in Syria include:

1. Russia

However, American military invasions might be nothing compared to the repercussions that can devastate a country from U.S. economic sanctions.

What is the US Department of The Treasury?

According to their statements: The Treasury Department performs a critical and far-reaching role in enhancing national security by implementing economic sanctions against foreign threats to the U.S., identifying and targeting the financial support networks of national security threats, and improving the safeguards of our financial systems. [02]

The Treasury Department has a long history of dealing with sanctions. Dating back prior to the War of 1812, Secretary of the Treasury Gallatin administered sanctions imposed against Great Britain for the harassment of American sailors. During the Civil War, Congress approved a law which prohibited transactions with the Confederacy, called for the forfeiture of goods involved in such transactions, and provided a licensing regime under rules and regulations administered by Treasury.

OFAC is the successor to the Office of Foreign Funds Control (the “FFC”), which was established at the advent of World War II following the German invasion of Norway in 1940. The FFC program was administered by the Secretary of the Treasury throughout the war. The FFC’s initial purpose was to prevent Nazi use of the occupied countries’ holdings of foreign exchange and securities and to prevent forced repatriation of funds belonging to nationals of those countries. These controls were later extended to protect assets of other invaded countries. After the United States formally entered World War II, the FFC played a leading role in economic warfare against the Axis powers by blocking enemy assets and prohibiting foreign trade and financial transactions.

OFAC itself was formally created in December 1950, following the entry of China into the Korean War, when President Truman declared a national emergency and blocked all Chinese and North Korean assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

What is OFAC and what does it do?

The Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces economic sanctions programs primarily against countries and groups of individuals, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers. The sanctions can be either comprehensive or selective, using the blocking of assets and trade restrictions to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals.

What is a U.S. sanction?

Prohibited transactions are trade or financial transactions and other dealings in which U.S. persons may not engage unless authorized by OFAC or expressly exempted by statute. Because each program is based on different foreign policy and national security goals, prohibitions may vary between programs. [03]

According to The U.S. Department of The Treasury the following countries are currently on the sanctions list: [04]

Active U.S.A. Sanctions Programs:	Last Renewal:
Balkans-Related Sanctions	07/09/2015
Belarus Sanctions	04/29/2016
Burma Sanctions	05/17/2016
Burundi Sanctions	06/02/2016
Central African Republic Sanctions	03/08/2016
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)-Related Sanctions	07/30/2015
Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions	07/01/2016
Counter Terrorism Sanctions	06/30/2016
Cuba Sanctions	07/08/2016
Cyber-related Sanctions	12/31/2015
Democratic Republic of the Congo-Related Sanctions	06/23/2016
Iran Sanctions	06/08/2016
Iraq-Related Sanctions	04/04/2016
Lebanon-Related Sanctions	07/30/2010
Libya Sanctions	05/13/2016
Magnitsky Sanctions	02/01/2016
Non-Proliferation Sanctions	03/24/2016
North Korea Sanctions	07/06/2016
Rough Diamond Trade Controls	05/21/2008
Somalia Sanctions	07/05/2012
Sudan Sanctions	03/09/2016
South Sudan-related Sanctions	04/04/2016
Syria Sanctions	04/15/2016
Transnational Criminal Organizations	02/16/2016
Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions	12/22/2015
Venezuela-Related Sanctions	07/10/2015
Yemen-Related Sanctions	04/14/2015
Zimbabwe Sanctions	03/22/2016

In other words – civilians – the innocent population – are suffering for the crimes of their corrupt government; men, women, youth, children and infants who are already suppressed by a cruel and unjust regime, are made to suffer worsened poverty and poor health.

I am just saying.

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