Download or read book United States Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant written by Committee on Foreign Relations United St and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-07-30 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: President Obama has laid out a comprehensive, holistic strategy that purports to integrate all the tools of U.S. power to defeat ISIL. Our partners in the Middle East are willing to support, fund, and provide resources for this campaign. From Riyadh to Abu Dhabi, from Cairo to Amman to Beirut, our partners are sending the signal to ISIL that they are not welcome, that they have a bankrupt religious ideology, and that they will be aggressively confronted. The problems in Iraq and Syria that created an environment susceptible to ISIL's advance can only be solved locally. In Iraq, this means an inclusive government with a national agenda and leaders ready to empower the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to take the fight to ISIL. In Syria, it means training and equipping a vetted Syrian opposition force that shares our vision for a pluralistic free Syria, free of ISIL and all violent extremist groups. We must be clear-eyed about the risks before providing our enduring support for this operation. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past, given the nature of the threat we face. This means clearly defining the objectives, the political end state that we seek through this anti-ISIL campaign.

Download or read book United States Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant written by United States. Congress and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-03 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: United States strategy to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant : hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States, Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, second session, September 17, 2014.

Download or read book United States Strategy and Military Operations to Counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and United States Policy Toward Iraq and Syria written by Committee on Committee on Armed Services United States Senate and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-10-22 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The black flags of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are now flying over yet another major Iraqi city, Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar Province, and reports overnight suggest that ISIL now controls the Syrian city of Palmyra, as well. The fall of Ramadi and capture by ISIL of American-supplied military equipment is another setback for the United States and further undermines our credibility as a reliable strategic partner in the region. And yet, the Obama administration seems unwilling or unable to grasp the strategic significance. As ISIL terrorists ransacked Ramadi-the Pentagon's news page ran a story with the headline, "Strategy to Defeat ISIL is Working." Secretary of State John Kerry said Ramadi was a mere "target of opportunity." When a review should have been well underway to correct an incoherent strategy that is woefully under-resourced, the White House Press Secretary, Josh Ernst, said, "Are we going to light our hair on fire every time there's a setback?" The disaster of Ramadi should lead to a complete overhaul of U.S. Strategy. The President has stated, "Our goal is degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL," but neither strategy nor resources support this goal.

Download or read book United States Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Islamic State Crisis and U s Policy written by Congressional Research Service and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-02-06 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL/ISIS) is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that has expanded its control over areas of parts of Iraq and Syria since 2013, threatening the wider region. There is debate over the degree to which the Islamic State organization might represent a direct terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or to U.S. facilities and personnel in the region. The forerunners of the Islamic State were part of the insurgency against coalition forces in Iraq, and the organization has in the years since the 2011 U.S. withdrawal from Iraq expanded its control over significant areas of both Iraq and Syria. The Islamic State has thrived in the disaffected Sunni tribal areas of Iraq and taken control of some eastern provinces of Syria torn by the civil war. In 2014, Islamic State-led forces, supported by groups linked to ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and some Sunni Arabs, advanced along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq, seizing population centers including Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities. Since then, IS forces have massacred Syrian and Iraqi adversaries, including some civilians, often from ethnic or religious minorities, and murdered hostages, including U.S. citizens. Islamic State offensives in Iraq's Anbar province and against Kurdish enclaves continue. The group's tactics have drawn international ire, and raised U.S. attention to Iraq's political problems and to the war in Syria. On September 10, 2014, President Obama announced a series of actions intended to “degrade, and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State organization. The United States is leading and seeking to expand a multilateral coalition that is undertaking direct military action; providing advice, training, and equipment for partner ground forces in Iraq and Syria; gathering and sharing intelligence; and using financial measures against the Islamic State. The objective of these measures is to progressively shrink the geographic and political space, manpower, and financial resources available to the Islamic State organization. U.S. officials refer to their strategy as “Iraq-first” and “ISIL-first,” amid criticism by some in Congress that more attention should be paid to the civil war in Syria and more effort should be made to oust Syrian President Bashar al Asad. The U.S. desire to show progress against the Islamic State and in the recruitment of regional partners raises questions of whether the U.S. mission and commitment might expand. President Obama has ruled out deploying ground combat forces to Iraq or Syria, but has not ruled out providing forward aircraft controllers, additional military advisors, or other related ground-based military assets. Some experts assert that coalition partners inside Iraq and Syria—Iraqi government forces and select Syrian groups—are too weak to defeat the Islamic State and will eventually require help from U.S. combat troops. Several regional coalition members apparently seek an expansion of the U.S.-led mission to include an effort to oust President Asad of Syria. In December 2014, the 113th Congress provided new authorities and funds for efforts to combat the Islamic State organization in Syria and Iraq in the FY2015 national defense authorization (P.L. 113-291) and consolidated appropriations acts (P.L. 113-235). The 114th Congress is now considering the Administration's budget requests for FY2016 funding to continue current efforts.

Download or read book United States Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant S HRG 113 668 September 17 2014 113 2 written by and published by . This book was released on 2015* with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book U S Military Action Against the Islamic State written by Congressional Research Service and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-09-25 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The capture of significant portions of Iraqi territory in June 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), which has subsequently begun formally referring to itself as the Islamic State (IS), has prompted renewed U.S. military action in Iraq, along with the discussion of possible military strikes against IS forces located in Syria. Between March 2003 and the end of 2011, the U.S. military forces had been deployed in Iraq first to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power and then to assist the nascent post-Saddam government in responding to threats to the country's stability. Following the expiration of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement at the end of 2011, offensive U.S. military operations ceased and most U.S. forces were withdrawn. This report addresses select legal questions raised by the use of military force against IS. Questions addressed in this report include potential sources (and limitations) of presidential authority to use military force against the Islamic State without congressional authorization; the potential relevance of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq (2002 Iraq AUMF; P.L. 107-243) and the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (2001 AUMF; P.L. 107-40); the applicability of the United Nations Charter to ongoing U.S. military strikes in Iraq and any prospective strikes against IS forces in Syria; and the constraints imposed by the War Powers Resolution upon U.S. military action that has not been authorized by Congress. The report will be updated as warranted by events"--Preliminary page.

Download or read book The Islamic State and U s Policy written by Christopher Blanchard and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-09-05 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL/ISIS, or the Arabic acronym Da'esh) is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, has affiliates in several other countries, has attracted a network of global supporters, and disrupts international security with its campaigns of violence and terrorism. The U.S.-led coalition military campaign against the Islamic State organization in Iraq and Syria has adapted since 2014, as Administration officials and coalition partners have implemented changes in strategy and tactics that have reduced the area controlled by the group and eliminated thousands of its personnel. While the Islamic State has suffered losses on the ground in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, a series of terrorist attacks attributed to the group or to individuals it has inspired have claimed hundreds of lives on four continents since November 2015, including in the United States. These incidents are creating a more global sense of urgency about further weakening the group and preventing future attacks. Members of Congress, Administration officials, and their international counterparts continue to debate a range of proposals for extending battlefield gains made to date and preventing the Islamic State from succeeding in its stated objectives of "remaining and expanding." President Obama has stated that the goals of U.S. strategy are to "degrade and ultimately defeat" the Islamic State using various means including U.S. direct military action and support for local partner forces. The U.S. military has conducted operations against the group in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. Parallel U.S. diplomatic efforts are designed to promote political reconciliation in each country among local factions. In other countries, such as Egypt and Nigeria, the United States provides security assistance to partner governments in support of those governments' operations against Islamic State affiliates. Evolving counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing efforts among a wider network of concerned governments seek to further limit the ability of IS supporters to carry out transnational terrorist attacks. The interdependent nature of conflicts and political crises in Iraq, Syria, and other countries where the Islamic State operates complicates efforts to address and durably eliminate the threats posed by the group. Military operations may eliminate IS fighters and liberate IS-held territory, but underlying political disputes and development challenges that have been exploited by the Islamic State and other extremist groups may remain unaddressed or become amplified if postconflict reconciliation and reconstruction needs go unmet. Governments may share fears about IS-related transnational terrorist threats, but leaders may face difficult decisions about the potential risks and rewards of various proposed military, law enforcement, surveillance, intelligence sharing, financial, border security, refugee admission, and consular measures. This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discusses its goals, operations, and affiliates, reviews U.S. legislative and policy debates, and describes select FY2017 legislative proposals.

Download or read book The Islamic State and U S Policy written by Christopher Blanchard and published by . This book was released on 2017-01-26 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL/ISIS, or the Arabic acronym Da'esh) is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, has affiliates in several other countries, has attracted a network of global supporters, and disrupts international security with its campaigns of violence and terrorism. The U.S.-led coalition military campaign against the Islamic State organization in Iraq and Syria has adapted since 2014, as Administration officials and coalition partners have implemented changes in strategy and tactics that have reduced the area controlled by the group and eliminated thousands of its personnel. While the Islamic State has suffered losses on the ground in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, a series of terrorist attacks attributed to the group or to individuals it has inspired have claimed hundreds of lives on four continents since November 2015, including in the United States. A number of countries, including the United States, share an interest in further weakening the group and preventing future attacks. Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and their international counterparts continue to debate a range of proposals for extending battlefield gains made to date and preventing the Islamic State from succeeding in its stated objectives of "remaining and expanding." President Obama's goals for U.S. strategy were to "degrade and ultimately defeat" the Islamic State through U.S. direct military action and support for local partner forces. The U.S. military has conducted operations against the group in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. Parallel U.S. diplomatic efforts have promoted political reconciliation in each country among local factions. In other countries, such as Egypt and Nigeria, the United States provides security assistance to partner governments in support of operations against Islamic State affiliates. Evolving counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing efforts among a wider network of concerned governments seek to further limit the ability of IS supporters to carry out transnational terrorist attacks. President-elect Donald Trump has signaled that his Administration may reexamine and redefine U.S. goals and strategies, with a goal of defeating the Islamic State quickly and decisively. The interdependent nature of conflicts and political crises in Iraq, Syria, and other countries where the Islamic State operates complicates efforts to address and durably eliminate the threats posed by the group. Military operations may eliminate IS fighters and liberate IS-held territory, but underlying political disputes and development challenges that have been exploited by the Islamic State and other extremist groups may remain unaddressed or become amplified if post- conflict reconciliation and reconstruction needs go unmet. Governments may continue to share fears about IS-related transnational terrorist threats, but leaders also may continue to face difficult decisions about the potential risks and rewards of military, law enforcement, surveillance, intelligence sharing, financial, border security, refugee admission, and consular countermeasures. This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discusses its goals, operations, and affiliates, reviews U.S. legislative and policy debates, and describes select FY2017 legislation.

Download or read book The Islamic State and U S Policy written by Congressional Service and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-10-11 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL/ISIS, or the Arabic acronym Da'esh) is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from 2014 through 2017. The group attracted a network of global supporters and its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, received pledges of affiliation from groups in several other countries. A series of terrorist attacks attributed to the group or to individuals it has inspired have claimed hundreds of lives on four continents since November 2015, including in the United States. While U.S. and allied forces in 2017 and 2018 successfully liberated most of the territory formerly held by the group in Syria and Iraq, IS leadership remains at large and IS fighters appear to be evolving into an insurgent force. The group's international affiliates continue to operate, and individuals inspired by the group continue to attempt attacks in Europe and elsewhere. The stabilization of areas recovered from the group in Iraq and Syria remains an ongoing challenge, and a U.S. military spokesperson for the counter-IS campaign warned in August 2018 that, "We cannot emphasize enough that the threat of losing the gains we have made is real, especially if we are not able to give the people a viable alternative to the ISIS problem." Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and their international counterparts continue to debate a range of proposals for consolidating battlefield gains made to date and preventing the Islamic State from succeeding in its stated objectives of remaining and expanding. President Obama's goals for U.S. strategy were to degrade and ultimately defeat the Islamic State through U.S. direct military action and support for local partner forces. President Donald Trump directed his Administration to develop a comprehensive plan to defeat the group and has accelerated U.S. military operations while augmenting U.S. contributions to stabilization in liberated areas. The U.S. military continues to conduct operations against the group in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, while monitoring and occasionally striking its affiliates and personnel elsewhere. Parallel U.S. assistance efforts support stabilization in areas once held by the group, and diplomatic efforts have promoted political reconciliation among local factions in countries where Islamic State supporters are active. The United States also provides security assistance to partner governments in support of operations against Islamic State affiliates and to strengthen the ability of partners to deter and respond to Islamic State attacks. Evolving counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing efforts among a wider network of concerned governments seek to further limit the ability of IS supporters to carry out transnational terrorist attacks. Interrelated conflicts and political crises in Iraq, Syria, and other countries where the Islamic State operates complicate efforts to address and durably eliminate the threats posed by the group. Military operations may reduce the numbers of IS fighters and liberate IS-held territory, but the underlying political disputes and development challenges that the Islamic State has exploited may create ongoing openings for the group if governance and reconstruction needs go unmet. Governments may continue to face difficult decisions about the potential risks and rewards of various military, law enforcement, surveillance, intelligence sharing, financial, border security, refugee admission, and consular countermeasures. This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discusses its goals, operations, and affiliates, reviews U.S. legislative and policy debates, and reviews relevant legislation from the 114th and 115th Congresses.

Download or read book U S Policy Towards Iraq and Syria and the Threat Posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State written by Kimberly Kagan and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State poses a grave danger to the United States and its allies in the Middle East and around the world. Politically, the U.S. must use its leverage to continue to shape the emerging Iraqi government to be as inclusive and non-sectarian as possible. The U.S. must also engage in developing an inclusive government-in-waiting in Syria, unifying the 'Alawite community with other minority groups that can work with moderate Sunni leaders. This phase will require as many as 25,000 ground troops in Iraq and Syria. Decisive efforts will belong to Special Forces and special mission units, numbering in the low thousands, in a dispersed footprint. Support of at least a U.S. Army Combat Aviation Brigade (about 3,300 soldiers) is needed. Two battalion-sized quick reaction forces (QRF) will need to be available at all times, one in Iraq and one in Syria. Two brigades, perhaps 7,000 soldiers in all, are needed to provide these QRFs. Additional forces will be required to secure temporary bases, provide MEDEV AC coverage, and support necessary enablers. Subsequent operational phases will depend on validating the assumption that the Sunni Arab communities in Iraq and Syria are willing and able to fight alongside the U.S. and our partners against ISIS. Though this strategy contains a high risk of failure and the near-certainty of U.S. troop casualties, the outcomes of ISIS retaining control of the territory it has seized, an escalated sectarian war, more foreign fighters, and the largest al-Qaeda safe haven it has ever known outweigh those risks.

Download or read book Testimony on U S Policy Towards Iraq and Syria and the Threat Posed by The Islamic State of Iraq and The Levant ISIL written by United States United States Senate and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-01-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "ISIS has terrorized the Iraqi and Syrian people, engaging in kidnappings, killings, persecutions of religious minorities, and attacking schools, hospitals, and cultural sites. ISIS has broughthome its barbarity with the brutal beheading of American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker, David Haines.While ISIS is currently focused on building an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East, its poisonous ideology is hostile, not only to the region, but to the world, and there is real risk that the area it controls could become a launching pad for future terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies. This threat is amplified by foreign fighters who travel from Western countries to join withISIS and then return to their countries of origin with advanced training and fighting experience."

Download or read book The Counterterrorism Strategy Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant written by CREATESPACE INDEPENDENT PUB and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-01-30 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Daesh continues to spread and create instability throughout the Middle East, northern Africa, and Asia. Their propaganda and insidious campaign of influence extends globally, manipulating or recruiting young men and women who are willing to die for Daesh. President Obama has acknowledged that we do not have a complete strategy to combat the threat. Defense Secretary Carter has acknowledged that the military is reviewing how to increase the effectiveness of our campaign and that an additional 450 troops would deploy to Iraq to expand the advise and assist mission. While often characterized as a terrorist organization, ISIL/Daesh fights and behaves like an army. They remain well-funded and resourced, and they do not necessarily need overwhelming numbers to win on the battlefield, only an ability to strike fear in the hearts of those they encounter. Are we on the right path to defeat ISIL/Daesh? What problems exist with our current counterterrorism strategy? What other actions could be taken to counter this evolving national security threat?

Download or read book Cut Down the Black Flag written by James Hanson and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-09-16 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS or ISIL, has been wreaking havoc, killing thousands and presenting a serious threat to the security of the United States and the world. This conflict-- as well as the rise of an inter-continental Caliphate run by the Islamic State-- are a direct result of the failure to maintain a US presence in Iraq after the successful prosecution of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This monograph examines the current situation due to a failed American strategy in dealing with the threat. In response, it provides five alternative Courses of Action for US military and national security policy planners. A new strategy and will to win is required to replace the failed attempts by President Obama to do as little as he can get away with. This book presents a way forward.

Download or read book The Newest Chapter in Counterinsurgency Operations written by Gabriel A. Lewis and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has become a serious problem in Iraq and Syria. The radical terrorist group is growing rapidly and causing great instability in the Middle East to which the United States has become heavily involved. The United States has been involved in counterinsurgency operations for the last fifteen years but saw limited and temporal success in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The purpose of this paper is to examine what the United States needs to change about their current strategy in order to permanently defeat ISIL. It follows the problem/solution methodology in order to examine relevant background information, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current U.S. strategy, and present recommendations. The key findings of the analysis include: air power alone cannot win the war; the current security force training plan is not progressing fast enough, and U.S. weapons allocation needs adjustment. This paper offers four major recommendations: an increase to close air support forces, direct weapons support to the Kurds, increasing the security force training rate, and seeking neighboring coalition ground force support. The key to counterinsurgency is producing a stable and secure environment which starts strong security presence.

Download or read book The Islamic State Crisis and U S Policy written by Kenneth Katzman and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-09-15 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Islamic State is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that has expanded its control over areas of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria since 2013, threatening the security of both countries and drawing increased attention from the international community. There is debate over the degree to which the Islamic State organization might represent a direct terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or to U.S. facilities and personnel in the region. At the NATO summit in Wales during September 4-5, 2014, the Administration began to unveil a comprehensive strategy to defeat the Islamic State organization. As articulated by President Obama and other senior U.S. officials, the strategy is to use a combination of military action, support for partner forces in Iraq and Syria, diplomacy, intelligence sharing, and financial actions to try to progressively shrink the geographic and political space, manpower, and financial resources available to the Islamic State. The administration and its allies all have ruled out deploying combat forces to either Iraq or Syria. Some assert that the U.S. strategy will attract the support of Sunnis in both Syria and Iraq in a broad effort to defeat the Islamic State. Others assess that the strategy might have minimal effect because local anti-IS forces will not have support from U.S. or other western combat troops"--Preliminary page.