By gaining territory in Iraq, Syria and Libya the extremist group adds credibility for its caliphate, a potent concept to Muslims
When ISIS wins more ground, it gains more than just territory. Every additional inch on the map produces an inflated sense of both the group’s own power and the credibility of its claim to be the presumptive leader of the world’s Sunni Muslims. The extremist group may hold mostly stretches of desert, but desert, after all, is what most of what the Middle East is. At this point any expansion summons associations with the historical caliphates whose growing footprints are recalled with a certain pride by all Muslims, including moderates who disdain the group.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 15, 2015
Expanding the Caliphate -- Seth Jones, RAND
Mosul Is ‘Safe, Clean’...and Run by ISIS -- Nigash, Daily Beast
Syrian Druze massacre: Can jihadists salvage their image? -- Dominique Soguel, CSM
Israel Helped Obama Skirt 'Red Line' on Syria -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg
While Syria burns next door, Lebanon’s fabric is fraying -- Mohamad Bazzi, Reuters
Yemen Gets a Shot at Peace -- Bloomberg editorial
Iran’s Spies Tried to Recruit Me -- Shane Harris, Daily Beast
Doomsday: The Coming Collapse of North Korea -- Jamie Metzl, National Interest
Stand Back: China's Bubble Will Burst -- Clive Crook, Bloomberg
Why China Can't Be Trusted -- Jeffrey Ordaniel, National Interest
Why South Africa let Bashir get away -- Mehari Taddele Maru, Al Jazeera
The Sudanese President’s Escape Highlights the Determination of African Lawyers -- John Prendergast and Akshaya Kumar, Time
Is Europe Trending Toward 'Grexit'? Ask Google -- Mark Gilbert, Bloomberg
France and Italy Can't Seem to Agree on What to Do About the Immigration Crisis -- Pierre Longeray, VICE News
Venezuela: The Price of Revolution -- Nathan Crooks, Bloomberg
Virus Hunter Kaspersky Becomes the Hunted -- Matthias Gebauer and Marcel Rosenbach, Spiegel Online
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