More than a year ago last summer, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, grabbed the attention of the world when it seized Mosul in a lightning offensive. To halt further ISIS advances, American airpower began hitting its forces in the field, while the Obama administration assembled a coalition of more than 60 nations to degrade and defeat the terrorist army in Iraq and Syria.
Since the start of the coalition campaign late last summer, the fight against ISIS has seen progress and setbacks. Syrian Kurdish fighters have pushed ISIS out of towns such as Kobani and Tel Abayd, while Iraqi forces have recaptured Tikrit. But ISIS has advanced elsewhere, most recently in Ramadi in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria.
As the military campaign against ISIS approaches the start of its second year, the time has come to take stock of the coalition’s efforts.
Please join the Center for American Progress for this important discussion of one of America’s most challenging foreign policy problems. The keynote speaker will be retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. Following Gen. Allen’s remarks, an expert panel will discuss the coalition’s progress against ISIS and the prospects going forward.
Welcome:
Vikram Singh, Vice President, National Security and International Policy, Center for American Progress
Keynote remarks:
Retired Gen. John Allen, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL
Panelists:
Hardin Lang, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Sarah Margon, Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Moderator:
Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress