Islamic State’s recent attacks may have achieved something really important, accelerating its demise by forcing the West to adopt a new, decisive strategy.
The West’s war against Islamic State began with the aim of protecting minorities and emphasised helping those affected to help themselves. Trouble is, the region’s states have proved reluctant, considering Islamic State more a distraction than the main game.
The upshot is that the war against Islamic State is at its core a Western war with, at best, measured support from regional powers, friends and partners. The key exception is the Kurds, albeit Turkey is both enemy and ally.
Even so, the war is making slow headway. On current trends the defeat of Islamic State appears about three years away, but post-Paris this now appears too long. Two issues are combining that make major change possible.
Please click here to read the full Carve out a homeland for the Arab Sunnis and hope for awakening article by Griffith Asia Institute Visiting Fellow, Dr Peter Layton.
