Publication

This report lays out a strategic vision for the US government for defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Iraq and degrading it in Syria. It includes: 1) a “strategic pause” in Syria to allow the building of viable alternative governance in rebel-controlled parts of Syria, while rejecting the idea of partnering with the Assad regime against ISIS; 2) close support of Iraq, conditioned upon a commitment by Iraqi leaders to implement political reforms and by Kurdish leaders to remain within the Iraqi state; and 3) pulling back from debilitating proxy wars. I also warns against ignoring human rights and democracy in the name of counter-terrorism.