ISIS, Again Graham E. Fuller

ISIS, Again Graham E. Fuller, 01 Sep 08:23 PM ISIS, Again 1 September 2015 The West remains transfixed with ISIS (Islamic State, Da’ish) and the debate about its character goes on. In one sense this discussion is totally understandable, given the movement’s seeming sudden appearance on the public screen not much more than a year ago (although its roots were long since there), combined with its theatrical brutality, and extreme views and actions that make it impossible to ignore. Over time, this debate seems to center around three key issues: -Is ISIS driven essentially by theological and religious motivations? Or pragmatic political considerations? -Is ISIS essentially a medieval movement in character—or a “modern” movement? -Is the movement durable? Or is it a transient, radical, ultra-reactionary spasm in the tortured evolution of Iraq—a country still coming to terms with the US destruction of the country’s political and social infrastructure? And in Syria feeding off the tragic breakdown of order under Asad’s gross and... Read Morehttp://grahamefuller.com/isis-again/