This morning dawned in Washington with news of three new terror attacks, one in France, one in Tunisia, one in Kuwait. But scroll down a little further on the news page and you’ll find “al Shabab kills 30 at AU military base”, “IS kills 120 civilians in Kobane” also in the litany of Islamist extremist predations. In two of these attacks, the main targets were Muslims, either Shi’ites, Kurds or innocent bystanders and worshipers. Predictably, there has already been plenty of hand-wringing, statements of defiance from local leaders and victory dances from some. But the deeper question of what to do about this trail of horror still appears to be of little interest in the American capital. Instead, President Obama and others appear fixed on more clerical style analysis of the jihadi phenomenon, apparently believing that insisting these attacks are perversions of Islam is an adequate substitute for action.
A French special Police forces officer gestures as Police escorts a woman from a residential building during a raid in Saint-Priest, near Lyon, France, June 26, 2015. Reuters
While no strategy will eliminate the so-called lone wolf attacks that increasingly worry US authorities, the perception of victory is the real siren song for Islamist extremists. While there have been setbacks for ISIS and others, the reality is that they are not losing, on the verge of losing or even suffering dramatic defections. American leaders have always hated the practice of “picking winners” in any fight. And the same reticence is at play through the Middle East and North Africa. Because of that, and despite half-hearted training efforts for the Syrian opposition and incremental increases in trainers being sent to Iraq, we have few allies on the ground who are capable of slapping down ISIS, al Qaeda and their cohort. Instead, we gossip angrily about the weaknesses of the Iraqi government, the fractiousness of the Syrian opposition and the incompetence of third world armies. If this is not our fight, then gossip, kibbitzing and apathy are the right call. But the next terrorist attack on the United States — and it will come — will spur more calls to action. Wouldn’t it be wise to dramatically step up training, arms supplies, support and whatever is needed to begin to reverse the Islamist tide, rather than waiting until the only solution is the commitment of US combat forces? Just saying.
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