The Islamic State is Still on the Rise by David Ignatius, Washington Post
Republican and Democratic presidential candidates should be able to agree on one stark foreign policy reality: The tide hasn’t turned in the war against the Islamic State. In the 18 months that the United States has been working to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the group, it has grown to become a global force that can strike targets in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
The self-declared “caliphate” that in June 2014 was localized in Iraq and Syria now has nearly 50 affiliates or supporting groups in 21 countries. It has declared 33 “official provinces” in 11 of those countries.
Though it has lost about 25 percent of the territory it held at its peak in Iraq and Syria, it has meanwhile established an international presence, on the ground and in cyberspace…
Comments
If President Obama has, indeed, adopted the "Nixon Doctrine" as his strategy, then will he not continue to expect that others -- in whatever region of the world problems exist -- will now be expected to handle these problems more themselves?
http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/obamas-nixon-doctrine/
The role of U.S. thus, and then as now, to be seen, not so much as "leading," but more as simply providing a strong helping hand?
The regional nations, however, appear to be calling our bluff; this, by doing next to nothing.
And, thus, the region(s) go to hell.
In this game of "chicken," each side (the U.S. and the regional powers) expecting that the other, when things get bad enough, will be forced to step in, take charge and, accordingly, be forced to pay the price/pick up the tab?
Thus, those that cry for American leadership and for American's to take the lead and for America to, accordingly, pay the price and bear the burden -- of what might/should be seen more as regional responsibilities -- these folks to reconsider, in the light offered above, their point-of-view?