Those closest to ISIS must take the lead in expunging them from the planet: Turkey, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, EU; getting them on the same page requires patience and diligent leadership.
This is not a far-fetched dream of unicorns. Within the past week, a UN sponsored conclave of representatives from all of these countries, and others including the US, China, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE, and the Arab League, met in Vienna to agree on a plan for ending hostilities in Syria (the International Syria Support Group, ISSG.) This is not some low-level talking shop; it was a meeting which included the Russian foreign minister and US Secretary of State John Kerry. Not only did they meet but they all agreed on the the threat from ISIS, and the need to eliminate it. From their joint statement: “The members of the ISSG expressed a unanimous sense of urgency to end the suffering of the Syrian people, the physical destruction of Syria, the destabilization of the region, and the resulting increase in terrorists drawn to the fighting in Syria.”
This is striking, considering the antipathies which otherwise rule amongst this group. Russia is at odds with the US and the EU over its military involvement in Ukraine. Iran and Saudi Arabia represent the opposing centers of power in the Shia/Sunni struggle for the soul (and wealth) of Islam. And yet, it appears that armed conflict in the Middle East is universally perceived as not in the best interests of these global and regional states. The plan calls for a ceasefire between the Syrian government, and the broad array of opposition forces fighting to depose it. Supervised by the UN, elections without pre-conditions are to be held once the fighting stops.
Whether all this comes to pass as planned is less important than the fact that the meetings are taking place, are supported by the highest levels of all governments, and there is common recognition that the chaos in Syria is spreading, not only regionally to places like Iraq, but also globally, and affects the safety of modern societies. Equally important, they all agreed that “The ceasefire would not apply to offensive or defensive actions against Da’esh or Nusra or any other group the ISSG agrees to deem terrorist.”
This ISSG process carries within it the seeds of a unified offensive against radical jihadism. Again, from the joint statement, “Regarding the fight against terrorism, …the ISSG reiterated that Da’esh, Nusra, and other terrorist groups, … must be defeated. … Jordan agreed to help develop among intelligence and military community representatives a common understanding of groups and individuals for possible determination as terrorists…” In other words, they agreed to (a) collectively fight ISIS, and (b) draw up a list of other terrorist groups threatening the region (and thus the world). Remember, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, and China are all parties to this statement.
The fight against ISIS must become the model for how the modern world advances against the uncivilized thinking and goals of radical jihadism. The conflict with ISIS is civilization vs barbarism, not Christianity vs Islam, or Christians vs Muslims, or the “West” vs Islam or “Arabs”. Working with nations and people of all faiths and political persuasions will be necessary, just as it was in World War II. The “prestige” or place of US in the world is only at risk if we fail to lead and partner.