New US counterterror strategy a step in right direction: Analysts

“Like in many wars, but particularly in a war on terrorism as a ‘dirty war,’ there simply is no perfect solution — only the least worst one. Hence, on that issue, I am on the same page as President Trump: So far, our Western (effort) to win the war on terrorism was akin to trying to put out the fire with gasoline,” he told Arab News.

“It is better to protect the homefront, and help regional states to build up their own capacity — and to desist from meddling in regional affairs that are only half-understood.”

Lehr agreed it was an “interminable” fight. “What will happen after the fall of Raqqa and Mosul? Well, ISIS (Daesh) will devolve into a terrorist organization again, one that conducts hit-and-run attacks in many different locations without being able to control large swaths of territory as before,” he said. “They will still be able to harass us at the home front (in) Paris, Berlin, London or New York Washington for that matter.”

Ehsan M. Ahrari, adjunct research professor at the Pennsylvania-based Strategic Studies Institute, Army War College, told Arab News that Trump’s counterterrorism strategy looks much like that of the previous administration.

“As much as Trump is trying to establish some sort of distinction between his proposed counterterrorism strategy from that of President Barack Obama’s, the difference appears minimal at best.”

Ahrari also cautioned the US from depending too much on Middle East allies. “It is politically safe in the sense that it is aimed at minimizing the loss of American military personnel,” he said.

“However, such an approach also raises an important question. When was the last time any US (Arab state) ally really succeeded in their counterterrorism endeavors within their borders or in military operations conducted in (a) neighboring state?” and