Al Qaeda Is Beating the Islamic State
In POLITICO Magazine, Georgetown Professor Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and threat analyst Bridget Moreng report that the Islamic State’s offensive in the Arab world has obscured the reemergence of Al Qaeda, which has employed quieter tactics to make territorial gains. Understanding the differences in strategy is important, the authors write. “The United States has a great deal of opportunity to exploit the cleavages between the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, but if we fail to understand the two organizations’ strengths, weaknesses and strategic and tactical postures, the jihadist movement may emerge from this period of competition stronger than before.”