“At a time when Saudi Arabia in particular is seeking to create a grand regional alliance to counter the rising Iranian hegemony, taking an open-handed approach to the refugee crisis being kicked up by Saudi Arabia and Iran’s regional proxy wars is one, sure way to win a major soft power victory in that ongoing struggle. It should also be America’s price of admission for dealing with this alliance: if the Sunni Arab states want American backing for this endeavor against Iran, these states must accept the lion’s share of Muslims fleeing the region’s various civil conflicts.”
Tag: Islamic State
Iran Has Been Sending Children to Fight ISIS
“Any regime that uses 11 year-olds to fight terror groups, like ISIS, is neither an ally nor an agent of regional stability. Unless the Trump Administration takes note of these facts, Iran, not North Korea, will be America’s greatest threat in the near-to-medium term.”
From “Eroding Stalemate” to the “Winnable War”: Progress In the Wars In Afghanistan & Iraq
The ongoing Mosul Offensive is proceeding well, but the Islamic State is not going anywhere for a while. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are fighting to retake the vital Helmand Province with renewed vigor, as the U.S. continues to drawdown. The fact that the Islamic State can easily find refuge in Syria and that the Taliban seem poised to retake operational control over Afghanistan means that the U.S. is on the losing side of an eroding stalemate in the Global War on Terror. This essay addresses these concerns and articulates a general way forward.
Losing the War on Drugs, Part I: The Supply Side
In this 3-part series on the failing American War on Drugs, I address the question of fighting the war on the Supply Side and how that is the most important, near-term aspect of winning this wholly winnable conflict.
Just Who Is Coming Through Our Porous Southwestern Border?
The United States has become consumed with the issue of Illegal Immigration. Yet, from 2007-14, Illegal Immigration into the U.S. was at “net zero.” However, criminality (and potential terrorism) increased from 2011-15. This article assesses the security risks posed to America by allowing its southwestern border to remain open to all.
How to Budget for Hard Power In the Age of Restraint
In an increasingly dangerous and fragmented world, the U.S. will need to deter its foes and reassure its friends. However, current economic conditions make such a policy dubious at best. Therefore, this article will discuss how key defense budget reforms will allow for the proper allocation of funds to support the deterrence and reassurance strategy.
The Islamic State Strikes Germany; European Officials Slow to Respond
On July 19 a Hong Kong family was traveling on a train in southern Germany when they were attacked by a 17 year-old Afghan (of Pashtun origin) wielding an axe, intent on killing them in the name of the Islamic State.
Bangladesh at a Crossroads: Modernity or Medievalism?
Following the Islamic State’s savage Dhaka Cafe Attack this last week, I provide a detailed background of Bangladesh, its history, its cultural inclinations, its politics, and where I think the country is headed. Needless to say, like so much of the Muslim world, demographics are working against the pro-Western, secular government.
No, the Islamic State Is Not On the Run
In light of the most recent Islamic State terror attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I provide a critical assessment of the ongoing U.S. war efforts against the self-described Islamic State. To put it mildly: IT AIN’T PRETTY FOR US (but the next POTUS can fix it)!
THE WEICHERT REPORT 