IS (ISIS) File - Essential Reading

This Islamic State nightmare is not a holy war but an unholy mess

How Isis came to be
As world leaders now consider a military campaign to confront Isis, they should remember the lessons of America's costly and largely fruitless engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. They should understand that no amount of foreign military power can ever make up for the misrule of corrupt, failed governments like those in Damascus, Baghdad, Kabul or Saigon. 

They should embrace the lessons of Iraq's Sunni tribal awakening, that only Syrian and Iraqi Sunnis can defeat radical militant Sunni entities like Isis. Likewise, they should understand that only the mullahs in Tehran can help quell radical militant Shia entities like Lebanon's Hezbollah, Assad's intelligence operatives or Iraq's militias. 

You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia

Stopping the Islamic State without making matters worse
The only people who can truly defeat the Islamic State are the Sunnis. But they will not take on the Islamic State if the result will be subjugation by a Shia-led national government

To combat terror, end support for Saudi Arabia 
Saudi donors constituted “the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide”.

Refugees and Christians in Middle East need our help and support
The news around the world is tragic and depressing. What can we do?

Drawing the boundaries of the new Middle East with Christian blood

Really beautiful reflection on IS ... and Jonah!

Who is ISIS founder, Caliph Adu? 
According to an intelligence group, he was radicalised during a lengthy spell in an American prison during America's invasion of Iraq

Islamic State-loyal militants plotted to blow up brewery in Kuala Lumpur

Islamists target Indonesia’s most important Buddhist temple