Viewpoint: Confrontation key to tackling violent extremism

[Pete]

Viewpoint: Confrontation key to tackling violent extremism

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30600037

"Boko Haram's kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls, the graphic beheadings of journalists and aid workers by Islamic State (IS) and the Pakistani Taliban's (TTP) cold-blooded murder of schoolchildren in Peshawar have meant that 2014 has been characterised more by terrorism than any year since 2001.

The question many would ask as we approach 2015: is the world less safe than it was at the start of 2014 due to extremism? What have we learned about the nature of extremist terrorism and what does it tell us about future trends?

The first thing to note is that these groups did not suddenly change into bloodthirsty organisations in 2014...."

Interesting piece on terrorism.

[RomanCandle]

I hope it is not inappropriate for me to comment in this section but I have a question or two: What would the plan be to fill the vacuum created should Assad fall? Looking back at the controversy created when the Administration wanted to use airpower against the Syrian regime, that could have happened in relatively short order. There's that considering the nice guys that are sweeping through Iraq currently, coupled with what seems to be a course of action custom designed to allow ISIS or whatever they are called now to grow from strength to strength in their chosen AO.

Additionaly it seems apparent or at least its been reported that some neighbouring countries seem at least to give tacit support to ISIS. If that is so I wonder what their plan for containing the almost unprecedented destabilisation that would result. Who would benefit from having these guys control territory that borders them?