Global strategy to face growing terrorism

The November 13 attacks in Paris show that Daesh has moved to a most serious phase, targeting civilians going about their daily activities.

The several almost simultaneous attacks in Paris placed all life activities under threat.

The strikes targeted a stadium where an international football game was playing in the presence of the French president, a music hall and a restaurant.

An analysis of these attacks gives numerous motives for Daesh’s move, foremost being the wish to compensate for the loss of Syrian territory, due to the strong Russian military intervention, by applying the shock and terror strategy.

Questions are raised: does the terrorist group have dormant cells; are there decentralised individual groups that just follow Daesh’s invitation to move? Can the Paris attacks be considered a security failure? Are there “independent Daesh members” unknown to the security services?

Targeting civilians, like the Russian plane and the Paris attacks, makes the group even more dangerous.

But since it makes everybody share the same fears and worries, Daesh’s moves should push the whole world to think of a “global strategy” and efforts to eliminate this and other terrorist groups.

Serious measures should be taken against all countries that facilitate the work and mobility of the terrorist group.

At the same time, political exploitation of the current crises should stop.

Countries that are willing to join the global coalition against Daesh should revise their own internal situation, as many are still incapable of facing extremist ideologies and their tools.

Security and military services are facing a serious threat; they should consider new strategies to protect their personnel against powerful extremist propaganda. It would be a nightmare if security agents became threat factors.

Additionally, the security apparatuses should work more on restoring the national spirit of its members and formulate a military doctrine by working more on instilling the principles of commitment and responsibility in people.

This terrorist phase seems to place under attack all elements of civilian life.

Countries, particularly big ones, but even those that do not feel targeted, need to be aware that in order to boost their image, terrorist groups are capable of attacking any time, any place, and nobody is immune.

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