(Wall Street Journal) Frederick Kagan and Kimberly Kagan - The near-exclusive focus on Islamic State at the expense of serious efforts against al-Qaeda is an error. Destroying ISIS is necessary but not sufficient. Al-Qaeda is embedding itself within Sunni communities in Syria, Yemen, North Africa and elsewhere as the false message that it is more moderate than ISIS resonates around the world. The Institute for the Study of War joined with the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute for an intensive planning exercise to test courses of action that offer the best chance of changing the momentum in Syria. The key is finding new Sunni partners. The aim after evicting ISIS must be to raise a Sunni Arab army that can ultimately defeat al-Qaeda. Mr. Kagan directs the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Ms. Kagan is president of the Institute for the Study of War. Their report is available here.
2017-03-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive