What the End of ISIS Means

In the immortal words of Han Solo (Star Wars):  "Great Kid!  Don't get cocky."

What the End of ISIS Means

Not for the faint of heart

If you have a vivid imagination, you might not want to read this.  It's a small look at just how bad it was to be ruled by the Islamic State.  Just a peek, but it may be more than you want to know.



Secrets of the Black Stadium: In Raqqa, Inside ISIS’ House of Horror

What the Largest Battle of the Decade Says about the Future of War

Mosul has some interesting lessons.  But we shouldn't get too focused on this one case.  Urban warfare is in transition.

I was interested in the over-reliance on special forces in the first stage of the war.  They're good, but but they're expensive, and grabbing and holding territory is not their job.  This looks like the sort of mistake the US might make with its own forces.

Most important: this is not over.  Daesh is not defeated.  It isn't even driven out of all the territory it holds.  And a coalition is most likely to fall apart when people are more worried about the post-war environment than they are in finishing off the original enemy.



What the Largest Battle of the Decade Says about the Future of War