THE ISIS WMD THREAT
A new report from the European parliament is raising the alarm over the growing strategic capabilities of the Islamic State - and the threat they pose to the Continent. The group "has recruited and continues to recruit hundreds of foreign fighters, including some with degrees in physics, chemistry and computer science, who experts believe have the ability to manufacture lethal weapons from raw substances," the study notes, and "may be planning to try to use internationally banned weapons of mass destruction in future attacks" on European targets. The resulting danger, according to the document, is "the most serious terrorist threat faced in Europe for 10 years."
European publics, meanwhile, remain unaware of the threat, and unprepared for its consequences. "At present, European citizens are not seriously contemplating the possibility that extremist groups might use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) materials during attacks in Europe. Under these circumstances, the impact of such an attack, should it occur, would be even more destabilising," the December 2015 report, entitled "ISIL/Da'esh and 'Non-Conventional' Weapons of Terror," warns. In response, it counsels European heads of state to "consider publicly addressing the possibility of terrorist attack using chemical, biological, radiological or even nuclear materials." (European Parliament, December 2015)
BELATEDLY, AL-AZHAR ENTERS THE FRAY
At long last, Egypt's most venerable institution of Islamic learning is mobilizing to confront the Islamic State. Scholars from Cairo's al-Azhar University have just published a guidebook outlining a strategy by which Arab leaders and ordinary Muslims alike can respond to - and refute - the ideas of the radical group. Among the suggestions contained in the document are "legislating laws to monitor Facebook and Twitter accounts that aim at inciting hatred" and allowing "scholars to respond to ISIS's perversity in international and local media," Arabic media sources have reported. (London Asharq al-Awsat, December 30, 2015)
THE COST OF THE ANTI-ISIS CAMPAIGN... SO FAR
More than a year after announcing its various "lines of effort" against the Islamic State, the Obama administration's counterterrorism strategy is costing some $11 million daily. To date, the Defense Department has spent more than $5 billion on operations against the group in both Syria and Iraq, according to new figures released by the Pentagon. That sum is made up of expenditures on a range of activities, from air strikes to "mission support" for warfighters - with the lion's share of the money being spent by the Air Force, in keeping with the White House's preference to conduct a mostly aerial campaign. (Washington Post, December 22, 2015)
BATTLEGROUND: AFGHANISTAN
The Islamic State is spreading its radical message to Afghanistan. A new guerrilla radio station established by the group has begun broadcasting into eastern Afghanistan, rallying young Afghans to its cause and threatening the "infidel" government in Kabul. The media effort is mirrored by a physical advance of the group into the country; at least four provinces are now said to either be partially or fully under the control of the Islamic State. Meanwhile, the retraction of the U.S.-led Coalition has left the Afghan government reliant on the Islamic radicals of the Taliban to serve as a countervailing force against the Islamic State's advances. (Washington Post, December 22, 2015)
THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS MOVES TO CYBERSPACE
The Pentagon is said to be contemplating an expanded cyber campaign targeting the Islamic State. The White House is reportedly examining a stepped-up cyber-offensive against the group, to be headed by the Pentagon's Cyber Command, entailing "more aggressive efforts to disable the extremist group's computers, servers and cellphones [that] could help curtail its appeal and disrupt potential terrorist attacks," military sources report.
Another group, meanwhile, has already begun such a campaign. The hacker collective known as Anonymous formally declared war on ISIS following the November 13th terrorist attacks in Paris, and has since disabled thousands of ISIS-affiliated Twitter accounts and scores of websites as part of what the group is calling #OpParis. (London Daily Mail, November 18, 2015; Military.com, December 21, 2015)
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