Patrick Adams (Strategic Analyst & RIEAS Research Associate)
A victory for the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria would have a wide range of economic, social and political consequences. Economically, there would be a significant and damaging effect on the world's oil supply. Socially, not only would Iraq and Syria be affected but any country with a ...
... Pimodan
(Author based in the Middle East)
Al Baghdadi's major strategic failure has been his choice of the Fertile Crescent as the region for the establishment of his Khilafa. His dream of reestablishing a Sunni caliphate with roots in Iraq and Syria will eventually be crushed by the field's realities and only exposes his own lack of knowledge about the region. Not that a Sunni leadership would be impossible to carry on the lands of the ancient Omayyad and Abbasid's caliphates,...
... Together to Eradicate Terrorism
War on terror policies after the 9.11 attacks has become fundamental to the United States National Security Strategy. They even sought to prevent terrorists from reaching America's shores. This is good. But be honest. Terrorism is sinister and dangerous. All countries must work together to eradicate it.
Syrian Defeat for America
America is on the road with unquestioning support of the Syrian armed opposition, which is a way to grow and strengthen radical groups whose activities paved the name of Islam. There is no doubt that the Assad government in Syria ...
Assad will remain. However, the devil, as always, is in the details
The Syrian crisis continues to occupy a central place in world politics, even as the events in Ukraine have become the primary focus. The presidential elections in Syria will essentially change nothing: their easily predictable results will confirm the legitimacy ...
... Kenyan shopping centre?
Israel views Iran as its enemy, and is particularly concerned by Iran’s nuclear program. Although Rouhani announced it was purely peaceful, there are doubts about this, and not only in Israel.
I do not think international terrorism ever disappeared. The recent events in Kenya seem to suggest that Al-Qaeda-related entities have become even more audacious, and that they continue to expand their area of action. It has long been known that they have been present in Syria and other Arab countries, fuelling instability. The terrorist attack in Kenya is yet another reminder of how dangerous and unpredictable such organizations can be.
Today there exists a wide range of different terrorist organizations: some have an ...