This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-a-year-of-the-caliphate-who-can-defeat-the-socalled-islamic-state--and-how-10351316.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Isis, a year of the caliphate: Who can defeat the so-called 'Islamic State' – and how? | Isis, a year of the caliphate: Who can defeat the so-called 'Islamic State' – and how? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As the bloody events of Friday demonstrated, Isis has become a threat far beyond the borders of its so-called “Islamic State”. | As the bloody events of Friday demonstrated, Isis has become a threat far beyond the borders of its so-called “Islamic State”. |
| Yet one year on from its declaration of a caliphate, the international community seems no closers to forming a strategy to combat the militant group’s rampant rise. | Yet one year on from its declaration of a caliphate, the international community seems no closers to forming a strategy to combat the militant group’s rampant rise. |
| Here, we ask nine of the leading authorities on terror in the Middle East just who has the power to defeat Isis – if that’s even possible – and how it can be done. | Here, we ask nine of the leading authorities on terror in the Middle East just who has the power to defeat Isis – if that’s even possible – and how it can be done. |
| An Isis propaganda image of its flag being raised in the town of Soran Azaz Charlie Winter is an analyst with the counter-extremism think-tank Quilliam | An Isis propaganda image of its flag being raised in the town of Soran Azaz Charlie Winter is an analyst with the counter-extremism think-tank Quilliam |
| In Iraq’s case the answer is training. Secular forces need to lead the fight, in preference to Hashd. It’s not easy, because the militias are better trained and more disciplined. But for Iraq to emerge from all this it is all about training, discipline, and weeding corruption out of the military and political systems. | In Iraq’s case the answer is training. Secular forces need to lead the fight, in preference to Hashd. It’s not easy, because the militias are better trained and more disciplined. But for Iraq to emerge from all this it is all about training, discipline, and weeding corruption out of the military and political systems. |
| But a lot more difficult than that is Syria, and President Bashar al-Assad. There seems to still be an appetite in the West to work with him – a sense that he is more palatable than Isis. But that is profoundly wrong, and he has very cleverly played the international community. | But a lot more difficult than that is Syria, and President Bashar al-Assad. There seems to still be an appetite in the West to work with him – a sense that he is more palatable than Isis. But that is profoundly wrong, and he has very cleverly played the international community. |
| He is responsible for the deaths of 200,000 people, and while Isis is more globalist, it has killed only a fraction of that number. As long as Assad is using chlorine gas, barrel bombs on schools and hospitals, and routinely executing and disappearing people, then groups like Isis are going to flourish. | He is responsible for the deaths of 200,000 people, and while Isis is more globalist, it has killed only a fraction of that number. As long as Assad is using chlorine gas, barrel bombs on schools and hospitals, and routinely executing and disappearing people, then groups like Isis are going to flourish. |
| Isis is also constantly opening up new “provinces” so it has this perception of momentum. If one of these provinces – and I mean affiliate groups rather than geographical locations – was completely decimated, then it would really cause problems for Isis’s narrative. | Isis is also constantly opening up new “provinces” so it has this perception of momentum. If one of these provinces – and I mean affiliate groups rather than geographical locations – was completely decimated, then it would really cause problems for Isis’s narrative. |
| At the moment we do have a situation where Isis looks like it is this all-powerful, always-expanding, divinely-ordained project. If we can prove it doesn’t necessarily always succeed that will make a difference. It’s about getting under the skin of its brand. | At the moment we do have a situation where Isis looks like it is this all-powerful, always-expanding, divinely-ordained project. If we can prove it doesn’t necessarily always succeed that will make a difference. It’s about getting under the skin of its brand. |
| Kurds on patrol in the Makhmour district of Iraqi Kurdistan Joseph Willits is an official with the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and a former teacher based in Syria | Kurds on patrol in the Makhmour district of Iraqi Kurdistan Joseph Willits is an official with the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and a former teacher based in Syria |
| Immense political vacuums, combined with crisis and conflict, are allowing Isis to prosper and expand. Although air strikes have the ability to take out elements of Isis’s leadership and dent some of their ambitions, they will not be effective alone. | Immense political vacuums, combined with crisis and conflict, are allowing Isis to prosper and expand. Although air strikes have the ability to take out elements of Isis’s leadership and dent some of their ambitions, they will not be effective alone. |
| There will be no ejection of Isis in the areas they control where local communities believe they are better off and more secure under the Isis system. | There will be no ejection of Isis in the areas they control where local communities believe they are better off and more secure under the Isis system. |
| The battle to eject ISIS needs to be taken to the ground, not through boots and tanks, but by empowering those that currently either like or tolerate Isis. | The battle to eject ISIS needs to be taken to the ground, not through boots and tanks, but by empowering those that currently either like or tolerate Isis. |
| Such communities need to be incentivised to reject Isis, and see an alternative and improved future, otherwise nothing will happen. | Such communities need to be incentivised to reject Isis, and see an alternative and improved future, otherwise nothing will happen. |
| Iraqi Sunni fighters battling Isis forces on the outskirts of Iraq's Baiji oil refinery, about 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, on Monday Patrick Cockburn is The Independent’s Middle East correspondent | Iraqi Sunni fighters battling Isis forces on the outskirts of Iraq's Baiji oil refinery, about 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, on Monday Patrick Cockburn is The Independent’s Middle East correspondent |
| In Iraq, the Shia militias backed by Iran and the Kurds supported by US air strikes might be able to defeat Isis by force of numbers. | In Iraq, the Shia militias backed by Iran and the Kurds supported by US air strikes might be able to defeat Isis by force of numbers. |
| In Syria this is less likely, but Isis might at least be pressured if it comes under threat from a combination of US air attacks, Kurds, the Syrian army and non-Isis rebels. | In Syria this is less likely, but Isis might at least be pressured if it comes under threat from a combination of US air attacks, Kurds, the Syrian army and non-Isis rebels. |
| Syrian Kurd Kiymet Ergun takes a defiant stance in the outskirts of Suruc on the Turkey-Syria border (AP) Peter Welby is an analyst for Religion & Geopolitics, part of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation | Syrian Kurd Kiymet Ergun takes a defiant stance in the outskirts of Suruc on the Turkey-Syria border (AP) Peter Welby is an analyst for Religion & Geopolitics, part of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation |
| Isis may well face military setbacks in the next year, but it can only be defeated from within Islam. A particular threat to the group from this perspective is posed by other jihadi groups, particularly those fighting in Syria. | Isis may well face military setbacks in the next year, but it can only be defeated from within Islam. A particular threat to the group from this perspective is posed by other jihadi groups, particularly those fighting in Syria. |
| Jihadi John, or Mohammed Emwazi, is one of the 'Five Brits a week' who have travelled to fight for Isis Daniel Koehler is the director of the German Institute on Radicalisation and De-radicalisation Studies (Girds) | |
| In the short term the current mixture will yield results: aiding Kurdish forces, building up Iraqi forces, blocking financial transactions wherever possible and targeted airstrikes. | In the short term the current mixture will yield results: aiding Kurdish forces, building up Iraqi forces, blocking financial transactions wherever possible and targeted airstrikes. |
| But the constant stream of Westerners (and others) is a lifeline for Isis and to stop that the home countries have to do much more work in prevention and de-radicalisation. | But the constant stream of Westerners (and others) is a lifeline for Isis and to stop that the home countries have to do much more work in prevention and de-radicalisation. |
| Attempts to repress travel are not enough, and if not connected with a de-radicalisation strategy will only increase the threat. Isis has established itself as the most successful jihadist group in history so, like al-Qaeda, their brand will probably never disappear completely. | Attempts to repress travel are not enough, and if not connected with a de-radicalisation strategy will only increase the threat. Isis has established itself as the most successful jihadist group in history so, like al-Qaeda, their brand will probably never disappear completely. |
| Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG fighters rest in a base camp in the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane Hassan Hassan is the co-author of Isis: Inside the Army of Terror and associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House | |
| It should be already clear who can defeat Isis. Local forces protecting their areas are best positioned to fight and defeat the group, with the crucial help of the international coalition. | It should be already clear who can defeat Isis. Local forces protecting their areas are best positioned to fight and defeat the group, with the crucial help of the international coalition. |
| Kurdish forces have proved effective in fighting Isis in their own areas, as did Shia militias and Syrian rebels. Government forces, on the other hand, failed because they lacked legitimacy and effectiveness. | Kurdish forces have proved effective in fighting Isis in their own areas, as did Shia militias and Syrian rebels. Government forces, on the other hand, failed because they lacked legitimacy and effectiveness. |
| A caricature of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which is being displayed in Tehran Farah Pandith is a former Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the US State Department and senior fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics | A caricature of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which is being displayed in Tehran Farah Pandith is a former Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the US State Department and senior fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics |
| The issue is far broader than Isis, it’s about extremism and the question we should be asking is how do you defeat extremism? | The issue is far broader than Isis, it’s about extremism and the question we should be asking is how do you defeat extremism? |
| You do it through both a hard- and a soft-power approach. In terms of the hard power, the military power, the kinds of coalitions that have to be built and the kind of military acumen that has to come to the table must be steady and cohesive and multifaceted. | You do it through both a hard- and a soft-power approach. In terms of the hard power, the military power, the kinds of coalitions that have to be built and the kind of military acumen that has to come to the table must be steady and cohesive and multifaceted. |
| But it’s the soft power, the issue of the ideology that inspires young kids to move in that direction, that has to be married into the hard power for a fully holistic strategy to defeat Isis. | But it’s the soft power, the issue of the ideology that inspires young kids to move in that direction, that has to be married into the hard power for a fully holistic strategy to defeat Isis. |
| To be able to do that, we need an international effort of non-government actors to flood the market place, both online and offline, with counter-narratives that will prevent young Muslim millennials from finding them appealing. | To be able to do that, we need an international effort of non-government actors to flood the market place, both online and offline, with counter-narratives that will prevent young Muslim millennials from finding them appealing. |
| Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, via a spokesperson | Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, via a spokesperson |
| Ultimately, it is for the Iraqis to defeat Isil (another name for Isis), which is why the Coalition’s campaign is focused on supporting Iraqi forces to counter Isil, and re-establish control over Iraqi territory. | |
| These efforts have removed thousands of Isil commanders and fighters from the battlefield, destroyed fighting positions, and damaged Isil-controlled oil and gas facilities. | These efforts have removed thousands of Isil commanders and fighters from the battlefield, destroyed fighting positions, and damaged Isil-controlled oil and gas facilities. |
| The UK is playing a key role with airstrikes and intelligence gathering as part of wider Global Coalition action against Isil. The RAF has carried out over 250 successful airstrikes, the second biggest contribution in the coalition. | The UK is playing a key role with airstrikes and intelligence gathering as part of wider Global Coalition action against Isil. The RAF has carried out over 250 successful airstrikes, the second biggest contribution in the coalition. |
| Iraqi soldiers wave a captured Isis flag | |
| Dr Natasha Underhill is an expert on terrorism in the Middle East at Nottingham Trent University and author of Countering Global Terrorism and Insurgency | Dr Natasha Underhill is an expert on terrorism in the Middle East at Nottingham Trent University and author of Countering Global Terrorism and Insurgency |
| The only way to defeat Isis now is to move away from our preoccupation with a one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with Islamic fundamentalist groups. | |
| Isis is not al-Qaeda and we are forgetting this fact when trying to deal with them. A traditional military approach to curbing their spread is necessary, but more importantly we need to prevent them gaining any more ground across Iraq, Syria and further afield. We also need to try to deal with the underlying sectarian tensions which have plagued Iraq for decades, and which were made all the worse by the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. | Isis is not al-Qaeda and we are forgetting this fact when trying to deal with them. A traditional military approach to curbing their spread is necessary, but more importantly we need to prevent them gaining any more ground across Iraq, Syria and further afield. We also need to try to deal with the underlying sectarian tensions which have plagued Iraq for decades, and which were made all the worse by the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. |
| Until these issues are addressed, there will continue to be support for alternative groups such as Isis who challenge a government that the people view as being illegitimate. | Until these issues are addressed, there will continue to be support for alternative groups such as Isis who challenge a government that the people view as being illegitimate. |
| In Syria, we need to take a stand against the Assad regime and try to stabilise the country enough so that a new political system can emerge where the people have a direct say in the running of their country. Political freedom and political legitimacy would be like a cancer to a group like Isis, which is why they keep stoking the flames of sectarianism in order to promote themselves as saviours. | In Syria, we need to take a stand against the Assad regime and try to stabilise the country enough so that a new political system can emerge where the people have a direct say in the running of their country. Political freedom and political legitimacy would be like a cancer to a group like Isis, which is why they keep stoking the flames of sectarianism in order to promote themselves as saviours. |