It was inspired by al qaida but later publicly expelled from it Rand terrorism experts have analyzed the group's financing, management, and organization. The importance of social media in projecting violent extremist propaganda and recruiting foreign fighters is well documented As isis attempts to regroup and recuperate, investigating its use of information and communication technologies could be important to understanding the group's plans to regain territorial control. Some argue that airpower could have been applied more vigorously in operation inherent resolve to have more quickly defeated isis Airpower was essential, but ground forces led by iraqi and syrian partners were needed to destroy the islamic state as a territorial entity.
President obama's decision last week to conduct airstrikes against isis and send humanitarian aid will help buy time for both iraqi and kurdish forces to regroup But baghdad needs a strategy that aligns the political and economic interests of all iraqis to hit isis where it hurts It could take a change in leadership in both al qaeda and isis and perhaps some compromises on mission and strategy, but there are enough points of confluence to make a united jihadist front a realistic and frightening possibility. The recent kidnapping and murder of u.s Citizens by members of the gulf cartel in the mexican border town of matamoros has provoked expressions of anger and calls for action by members of congress Legislators introduced a bill to formally designate several of mexico's drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
