Paris Attacks Could Be ISIS Death Throes by Marc Simms

[HuckleB]

https://rebelnews.com/marcsimms/guerre-sans-frontieres-paris-attacks-could-be-isis-death-throes/

"...

Previously, I have written that while ISIS may opportunistically promote terrorist attacks in western countries, it would prefer to focus its efforts on the war in Syria and Iraq, at least for now. So what has changed?

...

This is only one of many recent embarrassing defeats for ISIS. Over the summer, a joint offensive between the Free Syrian Army and Kurdish YPG took the strategically vital town of Tell Aybad and have managed to hold the town despite numerous attempts by ISIS forces to retake it. The newly formed Syrian Democratic Forces – an alliance of militias from the YPG and Free Syrian Army who are specifically targeting ISIS – launched an offensive in October against the Syrian town of Al-Hawl, which is situated in a strategic location on the border with Iraq. The SDF captured the town and 500 square miles of territory, denying ISIS what was formerly a major stronghold. In a mostly symbolic but still significant victory, Syrian Army forces in combination with Iranian and Russian forces retook the Kweyris military airport earlier this month.

ISIS are isolated in terms of their alliances, as well. While there is a bewildering array of rebel forces – with varying motivations and state backers – and a number of groups and nations backing Assad, ISIS stands curiously alone from the crowd. While I have noted suspicions before that Turkey and ISIS have a closer relationship than either would be willing to admit, it is still mostly an arrangement of convenience, not of military necessity or shared goals and mutual respect. Equally, while the Gulf states may have had a hand in sponsoring ISIS’s early forays into Syria, it now represents more of a threat to the groups they openly back than an opportunity to be exploited. ISIS is also contentious within the larger Islamic radical scene, with many of the “old-guard” jihadists and preachers lending their support to Al-Qaeda rather than their upstart rivals.

...

I don’t have all the answers, or the solutions to defeating ISIS. But a good first step is not reacting as expected, not breathing life into what could well be a dying organization by lashing out, harming and attacking those who are fleeing the very violence that group has caused.

..."


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A good read, with much to consider, IMO.

[patsimp]

1. No bloody way - it is emboldening - a sign of their growing power and radical

followers.

this type of 'we are being beat up because the enemy is growing weak' is a very republican way of thinking during their stupid invasion of Iraq. It is the type of logic Cheney and Rumsfeld were using constantly.

[HuckleB]

2. Please read the piece before responding.

It's well informed. Thanks!

[BootinUp]

3. Reccing same article again. Very good read. nt

[HuckleB]

4. Thanks! And thanks for catching my bonehead posting mistake!

[BootinUp]

7. glad to. nt

[Yorktown]

5. ISIS is just an extreme symptom of a rising disease

Yes, the Paris attacks and Russian intervention might mean the end of ISIS itself.

But that won't change anytime soon the growing Islam radicalism Saudi Arabia has created.

The only long term solution is secular propaganda: let's advertise Moses never existed.

The truth can't hurt. Hopefully.

[HuckleB]

6. Alas, without liberal, secular education, propaganda will only go so far.

But your point is quite valid.

[Yorktown]

8. I know, I know

How do you propagate secular reason in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Pakistan even?

[HuckleB]

9. I seriously suspect that ending the age of oil as our primary energy source...

... will be the key.

And we're still working on that, to say the least.

[Yorktown]

10. Assuming 20 years before weening, that will have been half a century of radical petrodollars

It's bound to make ugly splashes larger than the ISIS blot in th elandscape.

[AngryAmish]

13. Khmer Rouge was utterly secular and an equal nightmare.

[HuckleB]

14. With no repeat, which is a difference.

[DFW]

11. Sure, just like the 2008 elections were the death throes of the Republican Party

Money breathes life into the ugliest of zombies.........

[HuckleB]

12. I'm not sure how your response connects to the content of the article in the OP.

I'd love to hear more. Thanks.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Let's hope so.

[AZ Progressive]

16. Does a surgical removal of a tumor always stop cancer? This is what is being assumed

Radical Islam is a cancer that can't be stopped by just destroying ISIS.

The leaders of ISIS have been active in Iraq's insurgency at least since 2004, giving them many years of experience in resisting America's attempts to destroy them.

Also, I'm sure America thought that they could destroy the Taliban in Afghanistan back in 2001. Look at where they are now.