The victory of Iraqi army troops in Ramadi is a major blow to ISIS after the terrorist group has suffered a series of setbacks in Iraq.  The expulsion of ISIS fighters from Ramadi, probably the second most important city lost to ISIS after the city of Mosul, is very symbolic.  It begins to unravel the ISIS claim to legitimacy and arguably its best recruiting tool – the establishment of a caliphate in Iraq and Syria and then throughout the Middle East. If ISIS can not conquer and maintain territory, it’s caliphate cannot long endure. Without safe territory from which to operate and the caliphate as a symbol of its legitimacy , it will be far more difficult for ISIS propagandist to effectively radicalize other Muslims from afar.

It is important that the Iraq army was up to the task. Since it is a Sunni enclave, it was important that it was the army who liberated the Ramadi, and not the Shia militias and their Iranian allies who have been doing most of the fighting against ISIS until now.  It probably even more important that Sunni tribesmen who live in that area joined the Iraqi army’s assault against ISIS which claims to be fighting for Sunni Muslims everywhere.  Now it is important for the Iraqi army to continue to maintain control of the city.  The Shia lead government in Baghdad must provide the citizens of Ramadi a measure of autonomy.  Ultimately total victory against ISIS in Iraq cannot be achieved unless the Sunnis are provided the right to participate fully in the Iraqi government.

It’s going to be a long war; there informed estimates that it will take the Iraqi army at least a year to recapture Mosul and still longer to rid the entire country of the ISIS scourge.  Even then, ISIS will continue to operate almost with impunity in Syria.  It will continue to do so until a political solution is reached to remove the Assad government from power and steps are taken to naturalize belligerent forces.  Only then can ISIS be rooted out entirely.

Meanwhile, ISIS will still be a threat around the world based on their ability to radicalize young men and women in our midst.  This is where our courage will be tested.  We can only be terrorized if we give into to that fear.  Right wing politicians in this country and around the world will try to emphasis the threat and fan the flames of fear in order to gain and retain power.  In the process they will try to turn the citizens in their countries against the Muslims in their midst and in the process will cultivate fertile ground for ISIS self radicalization.

ISIS can only terrorize us if we give into to the fear that they endeavor to cultivate and resort to self destructive actions.  We must stand tall like the citizens of Paris and prove that we will not be terrorized.