How were new Yazidi immigrants working from a Super 8 motel in Maryland able to help defeat the warriors of Islamic State on the battlefield? This is the extraordinary tale of how a few American-Yazidis in Washington, DC, mobilized a small, forgotten office in the American government to intervene militarily in Iraq to avert a devastating humanitarian crisis. While Islamic State massacred many thousands of Yazidi men and sold thousands more Yazidi women into slavery, the U.S. intervention saved the lives of 50,000 Yazidis.

Cries for help -- Before the invasion -- Invasion : Sunday August 3 -- First reactions : Monday August 4 -- Appeals : Tuesday August 5 -- The red line : Wednesday August 6, Thursday August 7 -- America responds : Friday August 8, Saturday August 9 -- The prime minister : Sunday August 10, Monday August 11, Tuesday August 12 -- The mountain is empty : Wednesday August 13, Thursday August 14 -- Kocho : Friday Aug. 15.