“We must turn candlelight vigils into constant vigilance. Prioritize people over politics. And do so in a way where the enemy is put on notice across the globe that despite our differences, they can manipulate us no more.”
For those who keep up with the evolution of jihad, the first half of 2017 should be cause for alarm. Though there have been positive developments in the battles to retake areas such as Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, the war outside the traditional battlefields shows signs of the enemy’s resilience and expansion. And these feats are not relegated just to familiar western areas such as France, the UK, or the US. Rather, in recent weeks, we have seen more evidence of the rise of extremist ideology, inspired by the likes of ISIS, as it rears its head to a level of greater prominence in places like Asia and Africa.
Make no mistake—the military victories in the Middle East should not be discounted, as objectives in Iraq and Syria have eliminated thousands of extremist ideologues. Among them are key contributors to the group’s ability to recruit and execute. Furthermore, military movements have key ISIS leadership who remain alive burrowed underground in hiding, restricting communications and access to their subordinates.
But what about the estimated 30 million disciples of jihad who exist on the periphery of the battlefield? That is where the most pressing war is and should be fought, as jihad has expanded to global proportions.
While recent high-profile attacks and allegiances pledged to ISIS by groups in less familiar countries like Indonesia and the Philippines may be considered news to the casual observer of the extremist world, to intelligence and law enforcement communities, the groups being highlighted represent a familiar foe. As has been the case in Africa, where homegrown terror groups have accepted roles as ISIS brand ambassadors, countries in Asia that have struggled with the same threats are now a source of international coverage. The lynchpin tying them all together is the group and its ideology, which has redefined extremism through its tactics and strategy.
With regards to the aforementioned warfare against ISIS leadership in its Middle East strongholds, current US tactics have yielded a diminished and disassociated leadership cadre, resulting in near misses against the likes of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi that are sure to number the days key personalities have left on this earth. To be sure, our military successes are to be praised. But regardless of battlefield eliminations, the proverbial extremist cat has long been let out of the jihadi bag. And it’s all by design.
A reasonable argument can certainly be made that the widespread appeal and success of al-Qaeda was tied to the cult of personality following established by Osama bin Laden. With ISIS, however, al-Baghdadi and his board members have figured out that the strength of a group and its ability to establish a caliphate lies with their pace and reach of operations, not on a single or small subset of individuals. After all, there are only so many spider holes in the desert to crawl into, and thus the shelf life for high-value targets is never expected to be lengthy. Herein lies an appropriate side note and warning to Osama’s heir, who has staked his claim and intent to revitalize his father’s legacy.
And thus, we have the mindset and approach that brings us to what should be considered the global phase of jihad. Though the banner is held by ISIS, its ideology is now franchised throughout the world. Existing predominantly in the four most populated continents, the mindset that values death over life is making gains of its own. And while it can thrive in a way that we cannot—disassociated and uncoordinated—our greatest strength lies in our numbers. We must look to draw the good from the bad. When attacks such as the ones in Manchester occur, we are often united by the outpouring of thoughts and prayers—condolences that make their way through the web of social media. But the severity of the reach of this threat means we must do more.
We must turn candlelight vigils into constant vigilance. Prioritize people over politics. And do so in a way where the enemy is put on notice across the globe that despite our differences, they can manipulate us no more. Yes, the global jihad is among us, and it shall give way to a global response. That is what it will take and is our only chance for the full eradication of this evil.
