Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
While the Islamic State can be defeated militarily, the United States and regional countries will need to prevent the creation of more groups like it in the future.
The real challenge is not necessarily stopping the Islamic State, but rather ensuring that it does not reemerge.
It remains to be seen what role Arab countries will play in combined international efforts to defeat the Islamic State.
As the Islamic State continues to grow rapidly, questions are being raised about its origins.
The biggest challenge facing the United States in taking on the Islamic State will be going beyond degrading and attacking its military capabilities.
While countries like Jordan will not participate militarily in the U.S. strategy against ISIS, it will provide much needed logistical and intelligence support and connections with the Sunni tribes of Iraq.
If Obama’s strategy to defeat the Islamic State is to work, the Saudis and Iranians must cooperate.
The Islamic State has ambitions in exporting its ideology outside the Middle East. What kind of threat does this pose to the global community?
Government corruption is an important factor in the rise of violent extremism. Syria, Ukraine, and Nigeria are important contemporary examples.
The Syrian presidential election is not free or fair. It is Bashar al-Assad’s attempt to legitimize his presidency.