by Robert G. Rabil
Although President Donald Trump has taken credit for the defeat of the Islamic State of Republic of Iraq as well as Syrian Arab Republic (ISIS) inwards its self-proclaimed capitals inwards Mosul, Iraq, as well as Raqqa, Syria, he has wisely refrained from declaring overall victory. However, the Trump Administration’s recent policies adventure making victory over ISIS as well as its ideology of Salafi-jihadism nearly impossible. The U.S.-led coalition's routing of ISIS inwards Raqqa as well as Mosul has neither brought close the demise of ISIS nor eliminated the ideological or militant threat of Salafi-jihadism. ISIS is yet active inwards parts of Syrian Arab Republic as well as Iraq, as well as a meaning expose of its members request keep joined other sis Salafi-jihadi organizations. While it is truthful many ISIS members request keep been killed, roughly request keep managed to escape or were given instruct out nether sure price of surrender. In fact, thousands were allowed to leave of absence to Idlib province from Raqqa as well as ISIS strongholds inwards Lebanon. More importantly, the al-Qaeda-affiliate inwards Syria, the al-Nusra Front, has rallied its forces inwards Idlib province. Furthermore, al-Nursa was operating lately every bit an umbrella scheme for diverse Salafi-jihadi organizations nether the label Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
In add-on to al-Nursa, inwards roughly areas, like Salafi-jihadi groups operate alongside tacit or explicit back upward from Arab Gulf countries as well as Turkey, such every bit Ahrar al-Sham as well as Jaysh al-Islam. As a result, Idlib province has arguably emerged every bit the novel hub of Salafi-jihadism. Tens of Thousands of jihadis committed to the murder of unbelievers, at the forefront of whom are the Americans. These terrorist groups are setting deep roots inwards Idlib as well as are sending off hundreds of seasoned jihadis overseas to assist expand the mightiness of their affiliate organizations throughout the Muslim world.
In the meantime, the Trump direction has reoriented its national defence strength strategyin which inter-state strategic competition, non terrorism, has instruct the primary concern. The strategy refers to PRC as well as Russian Federation every bit strategic competitors flouting international constabulary as well as lodge as well as specifies Islamic Republic of Iran every bit the most meaning challenge to Middle East stability. The direction is correct inwards underscoring the threats as well as challenges arising from these countries. Yet, the direction is committing a serious strategic fault inwards facing off China, Russia, as well as Islamic Republic of Iran at the same fourth dimension spell relegating the state of war on terrorism to a secondary priority.
Moreover, the apparent U.S. induce to take the Iranian regime constitutes an undoubtedly fresh provender to the assistance of Salafi-jihadism. This is truthful as well as comes alongside mounting tensions betwixt Washington as well as its allies, the cumulative termination of the merchandise state of war betwixt the America as well as China, the growing acrimonious human relationship betwixt America as well as Russia. Central to this is whether or non the United States of America of America tin run into all these challenges as well as yet atomic number 82 an international induce to comprise or cut down to a minimum the threat of terrorism. Clearly, Washington cannot.
Even every bit America was leading the induce to defeat ISIS inwards Syrian Arab Republic as well as Iraq, Salafi-jihadi organizations request keep expanded their mightiness as well as their transnational networks throughout the globe. Dozens of Salafi-jihadi organizations from Central Asia, North Africa, the Sahel region, the Indian subcontinent, as well as Southeast Asia request keep pledged their allegiance to ISIS or al-Qaeda. Additionally, ISIS as well as al-Qaeda request keep been making an exertion to heighten their operational ascendency throughout those regions. These specific places include; the Sinai, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, the Sahel region, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, as well as the Philippines. This is manifested non exclusively inwards sustained terror operations inwards weak or failed states but also inwards attempts to institute novel capitals as well as transnational networks inwards stable countries.
In May of 2017, ISIS-linked groups from 4 terrorist groups—Philippine Abu Sayyaf, Islamic State of Lanao, Ansar Khilafah as well as Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters—took over the major urban marrow of Marawi inwards the southern Philippines. The fight for Marawi raged for months as well as reflected the intense armed forces campaigns that the ISIS had supported exterior Syrian Arab Republic as well as Iraq. Although Marawi vicious dorsum into authorities hands, ISIS’s acts of terror against authorities authorities request keep continued unabated, alongside the most recent i taking identify on July 4, 2018. Twenty members of the country’s armed forces were murdered. No less significant, ISIS as well as al-Qaeda are reinforcing their transnational networks past times linking Salafi-jihadi as well as Islamist groups throughout Southeast Asia.
The Trump administration's strategy to address inter-state competition, Iran, as well as Democratic People's South Korea all at the same time, spell butting heads alongside allies, volition for certain undermine partnerships to protect the homeland as well as safeguard the international order. No less significant, the direction volition request keep inadequate international back upward inwards tackling the socio-economic as well as political grievances moving roughly Muslims to bring together Salafi-jihadi organizations. Salafi-jihadism has grown exponentially since September 11, as well as the grapple against ISIS as well as al-Qaeda has regressed inwards many countries. It behooves the direction to compartmentalize as well as residual its relationships alongside both allies as well as competitors. This is necessary to heighten international efforts to battle as well as comprise Salafi-jihadism on political, ideological as well as armed forces levels. Also, this constitutes the original challenge to the direction as well as the original immediate threat to American citizens. Therefore, disabusing itself of the illusion that ISIS or Salafi-jihadism has been defeated inwards Syria, the Trump direction should reorder its priorities past times leading a induce to snuff out the gathering tempest of terrorism inwards Idlib, Syria.
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