Future of ISIS: What Do Experts Think Will Happen Next? Author | Editor: Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc.). At its zenith in 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) controlled more than 100,000 square kilometers of territory. ISIS seized control over major cities, notably Mosul and Raqqa, which contributed to increasing disorder in […]
Continue ReadingPanel Discussion on Iraq and Syria. Author | Editor: Popp, G. & Canna, S. (NSI, Inc.). Executive Summary This report represents the views and opinions of the participants. The report does not represent official USG policy or position. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff (JS), the Deputy Director for […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (R4.4): What does a successfully concluded campaign against ISIS look like? Considering costs, reputation, and balance of influence, how should the U.S./Coalition define success? Is the defeat of ISIS a success if it causes the balance of power in the region to shift towards Iran, Assad, or Russia? Author | Editor: Hayes Ellis, D. […]
Continue ReadingAuthor | Editor: Popp, G. (NSI, Inc). This video is a brief overview of the Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) team’s Project Noor effort in support of USCENTCOM. Over the past year, the SMA Reach Back Cell has produced a vast corpus of knowledge and insight in support of key USCENTCOM questions regarding Syria and […]
Continue ReadingSMA Reachback Panel Discussion with Experts from Naval Postgraduate School – May 2017. Author | Editor: Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc). On 11 May 2017, NPS convened a panel session and discuss areas related to the 4th round of CENTCOM Reach Back Cell Questions. The speakers are listed below, and their biographies are available in […]
Continue ReadingSMA Reachback: Highlights From CENTCOM Round 1, 2 and 3 Questions. Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Overview ISIS will be defeated militarily. However, whether it is ultimately overcome by containment or by deploying ground forces to apply overwhelming force, the path to mitigating violent extremism in the region is a generations-long one. Military […]
Continue ReadingThe Meaning of ISIS Defeat and Shaping Stability — Highlights from CENTCOM Round 1, 2 and 3 Reach-back Reports. Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Conclusion ISIS will be defeated militarily. However, whether it is ultimately overcome by containment or by deploying ground forces to apply overwhelming force, the path to mitigating violent extremism […]
Continue ReadingSMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 10: Supplemental Transcripts. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. The enclosed reports discuss wide-ranging issues related to the defeat if ISIL and stabilization of Syria and Iraq supplementary to the 9-part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM grouped by theme. Series reports may be […]
Continue ReadingSMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 9: Coalition Views. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 9 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (R2 QL6): What are near and long term Turkish interests and intentions in Syria and Iraq? What are Turkish interests and intentions with respect to al-Bab? Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Despite policy shifts Turkey’s key interests remain the same The SME contributors to this SMA Reach-back write-up argue that the recent […]
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