War Against the Islamic State

The differences between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran seem small compared with barbaric plans for the region by Islamic State terrorists. Fast-spreading violence and a growing refugee crisis compel a coordinated response from Iran and Saudi Arabia to defend the region, argues Talmiz Ahmad, former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia and other nations in the region, for the Hindu. He calls for Iran "to work with the Shia regimes in Syria and Iraq to shape accommodative and inclusive governments, while the Kingdom has to wean ‘moderate’ Sunnis away from the IS coalition." Countries throughout the region suddenly must reassess alliances and priorities, carefully weighting their own participation in the battle against IS – withholding participation in the use of force risks spread of IS to new borders; cooperation with foreign forces may instigate domestic extremism. Still use of military force is the easy part. Countries in the troubled region must assess the root causes and find ways to provide social justice and representative political systems, education and economic development that lead to jobs and stability, along with a sense of regional security. Ahmad concludes, "Regardless of the enemies these emerging coalitions and external interventions confront, the roots of the Arab malaise lie at home." – YaleGlobal