It looks like I am the only blogger watching ISIS and other groups…..that is other than the occasional hateful post about Muslims…..but someone has to keep an eye on the happenings beyond the elections of this country.
In my research into terrorism I have found many good papers that offer some insights into this act of barbarism….I spend about 3-4 hours a day reading papers on the subject and one of the better sources of information (there is the Right’s ugly word),I have found that the stuff published by the International Crisis Group is timely and well thought out…..
This paper points to many of the reasons that groups like ISIS and AQ are able to function and gain in their influence…..
The Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda-linked groups, Boko Haram and other extremist movements are protagonists in today’s deadliest crises, complicating efforts to end them. They have exploited wars, state collapse and geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East, gained new footholds in Africa and pose an evolving threat elsewhere. Reversing their gains requires avoiding the mistakes that enabled their rise. This means distinguishing between groups with different goals; using force more judiciously; ousting militants only with a viable plan for what comes next; and looking to open lines of communication, even with hardliners. Vital, too, is to de-escalate the crises they feed off and prevent others erupting, by nudging leaders toward dialogue, inclusion and reform and reacting sensibly to terrorist attacks. Most important is that action against “violent extremism” not distract from or deepen graver threats, notably escalating major- and regional-power rivalries.
Source: Exploiting Disorder: al-Qaeda and the Islamic State | International Crisis Group
There are regions that are looking at an increase in instability….and when that happens we open the door for a rise in the extremism that we all fear.
The collapse of ISIS in Iraq and Syria could end up increasing the risk of terror attacks on the West, the country’s anti-terror prosecutor has warned.
ISIS has suffered a series of military setbacks after losing territory in Iraq in recent months while one of its most prominent leaders, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, was killed in an air strike in Syria in August.
Maybe a new approach should be found and maybe we could avoid some of this death and destruction….just a thought.
Perhaps a copy of this post should be mailed to various big name media corps. People are too often swayed by what they see there, rather than looking into things themselves.
I like the idea….but the media is the biggest “pusher” of the fear card….so they do not want to hear anything to the contrary….
They go with what sells – what else is new? The answer is always – Money.
Sadly true and also sad that it is the way of this society….not much else seems to matter any more…