It has been a little more than a year since the world learnt of the murderous intent and criminal chaos spread by Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). And as the events of the year have unfolded so far, we have also learnt that there is no depth to which Daesh will sink in an effort to spread its sick and twisted vision of Islam. Be it in the beheading of hostages, the execution of prisoners of war, the murder of tourists on a beach, or the destruction of ancient antiquities, Daesh has presented itself as a force of evil incapable of any understanding, compassion or acts of simple humanity.
And for the past year, political leaders in capitals across the region and around the world have struggled to forge a cohesive strategy against these terrorists who claim to act in the name of Islam but whose despicable deeds are inspired by demented evil.
Air strikes have had limited success in hitting against Daesh where it gathers in Syria, Iraq and now in growing numbers in Libya. As air tactics have evolved, so too has the ability of the Daesh leadership to avoid large concentrations of its forces. Clearly, on the ground, it has continued to advance — particularly in territory formerly held by the forces still loyal to the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al Assad. And when it is confronted, Daesh gives up territory slowly and at a bloody cost, determined to hold on to every grain of sand in its self-declared ‘caliphate’.
If there is a lesson so far in this, it is that only a comprehensive and unified strategy can hand a defeat on the battlefield to these determined terrorists. And that means putting boots on the ground — well-trained men with weapons capable of out-gunning Daesh. Boots on the ground does not mean forces from the United States, United Kingdom or other Nato members. Those western nations have a role to play in supplying weapons, trainers and a sophisticated command-and-control structure that can rout Daesh on the battlefield. But the slogging will need to be done by Arabs.
