As airstrikes have begun in northern Syria in the first of a coordinated series of attacks on the Islamic State (ISIS) strongholds, training sites, and resources centers, five Sunni Arab countries have joined as part of this American-led military coalition, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, and the Kingdom of Jordan.

This is significant in ways many Americans may not realize.

While all of these countries should be commended for their participation, four of the five involved in this campaign have, at one time or another, been responsible for either breeding radical extremists, funding them, or supporting and sympathizing with them, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

I suppose when your throne is on the line, all bets are off, even if that enemy is a group that you once supported, or intentionally ignored, allowing them to wreak havoc on the rest of the world.

After realizing that these terror groups can no longer be bought off and that, over time, they become more powerful and pose threats to the very sources of their funding and power, then they have to go... thus Saudi Arabia and Qatar's involvement.

There are three Arab nations over the two or three decades that have consistently fought against Islamic extremism. Syria, Egypt, at least up until it’s former president Hosni Mubarak was removed from power, and Jordan, one of the countries in this most recent coalition.

Jordan's King Abdullah II, formally the commander of Jordanian Special Forces, has always been a "true" ally to the United States especially when it comes to fighting radical Islamic terror. He has fought this fight for years, and has tried to educate our U.S. political leadership on the extremist threats and the future of this fight against evil.

Very few listened. But now, the world seems to be paying attention, including many of his regional neighbors who, for the past three decades, sat back and did nothing but watch from the sidelines.

In May, Egypt elected a new president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a former distinguished military commander and Defense Minister, another Muslim who understands the threats of radical Islam and has had the courage to stand up against it.

Today, President El-Sisi and King Abdullah II are two leaders amongst the Gulf States and Arab region that the western world must listen to, and support with funding and the resources they need, if we intend to exterminate this global threat.

Two days ago, President El-Sisi publicly applauded the U.S.-led coalition. But he cautioned that there must be a long-term strategic plan to address and confront radical Islamic extremism. King Abdullah said that, "ISIS… has triggered an understanding that its time for all of us to make up our minds on the fight of good against evil,” and bring all of “us together from all religions on different sides of the divide” if we intend to fight “the good fight."

He said that the Islamic State's growth over the past could have been avoided, had the U.S. and the international community taken action to track and dismantle the extremist group's sources of revenue.

The most important parts of their statements are, "long-term strategic plan," and making "up our minds... to fight the good fight."

Our allies around the globe, especially those in the Arab region, must be assured that the United States is in this for the long haul and that they will not be abandoned. That is their fear. It would be devastating for them, and disastrous for us in our war against radical Islam.

These air assaults are just the tip of the iceberg. When El-Sisi says long-term, I'm sure he means many years. I believe decades. This isn't ending anytime soon, and anyone that thinks it is, or doesn't have the patience to stick it out, should just throw in the towel now and give up.

Take it from two men that know this enemy better than anyone in the United States.
There's never been a more important time for the U.S. and Western world, or those who want to live in freedom, to listen to those who know best, or have no loyalties to the enemy we all face, and who has the courage to fight this enemy.

King Abdullah II and President El-Sisi are two allies that we cannot afford to be without if we intend on winning against radical Islamic extremism.

I just hope our political leadership now understands this.