Need for common anti-terrorism strategy

Although everybody approves of the necessity to have an efficient strategy to fight Daesh, the shape and objectives of this strategy are still profoundly paradoxical.

Since the first day the international coalition launched the strikes against Daesh, a state of confusion emerged, especially regarding the second phase of these strikes.

In this confusion, the Russian military intervention made up for the lack of a strategy to combat Daesh; the Russian move came under the slogan of fighting terrorism and the need to drain the terrorist movement’s sources.

Many Arab countries that had welcomed the international coalition found themselves obliged to deal with the new situation. 

Some countries found that they were closer today to the Russian position; the country seems to be the only strong party that takes tangible action on the ground.

After the recent attacks in Paris, the French president started to look for more cooperation with Russia and taking more actions against the terrorist group. This was followed somehow by Britain, Germany and some other countries.

The shooting down of the Russian warplane by Turkey has put everyone to a real test.

Moscow insists on looking at the downing of its plane as an obstacle to Russia’s efforts against terrorism, or even a block to the latest initiatives on a political settlement in Syria.

Many Western countries believe that the shooting down of the Russian warplane was a mistake that could be avoided and the targeting of the pilot objectionable.

The incident has focused the international eyes on Turkey’s politics.

Many are accusing Turkey of working against international security, saying that many terrorists who already conducted acts in Europe or are considered high risk have strangely passed the Turkish borders with Syria or even stayed in Turkey. 

As such, Turkey needs to show its real intentions vis-à-vis the international effort to fight terrorism.

Developments require coming up with a new strategy, knowing that no country is immune to the danger of terrorism. 

Such strategy cannot be the outcome of individual efforts, and it is impossible to have concrete results in the presence of many strategies.

Confronting terrorism has reached a vital stage, one in which all actors engaged need to reach a common understanding.

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