The key to maintaining pressure on the Islamic State in Iraq will be the CTS. Put simply, if Western-backed counterterrorism pressure recedes, a resurgent Islamic State is inevitable. See: Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, “Iraqi Security Forces: Special Operations Force Program is Achieving Goals, but Iraqi Support Remains Critical to Success,” October 25, 2010, p.8. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA545722.pdf ; Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, “The US Has Reduced Its Funding for the Iraqi Security Forces, But Continued Support Will Likely be Necessary,” January 26. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA493377.pdf ; Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, “Status of Fiscal Years 2011-2012 Iraq Security Forces Fund,” July 27, 2012, pp 6-8. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA591674.pdf.

Source: CNN February 26, 2024 16:51 UTC