Michael Weiss

ISIS and Global Terrorism: What It Will Take to Defeat Them

Michael Weiss, Nada Bakos, Tony Blair, Lindsey Graham, Brett McGurk

A panel of military, political, and diplomatic experts assessed the strategic evolution of ISIS as it pivots from territorial control to global exportation while integrating European nationals into senior leadership roles. Senator Lindsey Graham advocated for expanding U.S. troop levels to 10,000 in both Iraq and Syria to support indigenous forces, whereas Prime Minister Tony Blair emphasized a generational strategy to counter the ideological roots of radicalization rooted in failed multiculturalism. Despite significant progress in degrading ISIS financial networks and targeting senior commanders, the coalition faces enduring hurdles including Arab hesitation to target the Assad regime, internal instability in Iraq, and a projected conflict duration spanning decades.