ISIL continues to expand despite setbacks

NY Times:

U.S. Military Campaign Takes Toll on ISIS’ Cash Flow


The Islamic State has lost fighters, dollars and much territory, officials say, but the airstrikes have done little to stop its expansion elsewhere.
ISIL's strategy is assymetric to the extent it reacts to attacks by attacking somewhere else.  It is basically a RICO enterprise that looks for new opportunities to gather funds and recruits.  On the otherhand, it should not be considered a traditional insurgency within the calph real estate it controls.  There is is an oppressive totalitarian manager of area and people.  That is why a twofold strategy must be used against it, with a combat persisting strategy directly attacking its bases and a counter inurgency strategy against its operations in Europe and other areas it targets.

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