Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
There is consensus amongst the Arab news media, regardless of their country of origin or ideological leaning, that the Islamic State is a terrorist organization.
The global response to the Islamic State is playing directly into the hands of militants.
Airstrikes targeting the Islamic State, as well as regional involvement with the United States, could produce an extra surge of recruits and provide more momentum and grist to the jihadist group.
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.
Countries in the Middle East have to rise up to the plate and help put in place a political process that tries to address the underlying causes that have led to the emergence of radical groups like the Islamic State.
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.