An arduous task

Ever since the Obama administration announced its airstrike campaign against the IS, many have questioned whether such a task could succeed.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, then-U.S. President George W. Bush unleashed a war on terror in Afghanistan in late 2001. Two years later in 2003, the Bush administration expanded the war to Iraq, which opened a Pandora's box of conflicts and discord. The Iraq war deeply undermined regional security in the Middle East and intensified hatred of Muslims toward the United States and its allies.

Since assuming power, Obama has made an extensive adjustment on U.S. counter-terrorism strategy and even dropped the term "war on terror." Instead, it prefers more tactical approaches, for example, sending drones and task forces to support allies in the fight against terrorist organizations. In order to improve ties with Islamic states, Obama has stressed repeatedly that fighting against terrorism is not an attack on Islam and the major counter-terrorism task of the United States in the Middle East is to fight against divisions of Al Qaeda.

The IS developed its army in the Syrian civil war, which initially did not arouse the attention of the Obama administration. When the IS launched an offensive back into Iraq, Obama did not roll out a plan promptly owing to differing domestic opinions. Many politicians did not regard the IS as a direct threat to U.S. interests. Furthermore, there was a strong calll for U.S. troops to not be dragged into another war. Under such circumstances, the Obama administration did not offer military aid promptly as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki requested.

Even though Obama announced airstrikes against the IS on August 8, he was not willing to allow the United States to fight a deep battle with the IS, stressing a limited military engagement. After two American journalists were killed by IS militants and the IS threatened to retaliate against U.S. targets, Obama eventually rolled out a strategy on September 10, including expanding airstrikes to Syria, offering aids to Iraqi security forces and Kurdish troops, raising a "moderate" rebel army in Syria, as well as teaming up with other countries to fight against the IS.

The airstrikes have lasted over two months, but the IS has not been fatally wounded. Moreover, they have at some points set back the offensive of the Iraqi army on the ground. It is reported that the IS appears to be building an air force. In any case, the U.S. plan to fight the IS has run into steep political and military obstacles.

The Obama administration lacks a comprehensive and long-term strategy against the IS threats. The current plan is more likely a temporary solution. The IS is deeply rooted in Iraq and Syria. It is unlikely to be defeated completely by airstrikes and a weak Iraqi army in the short term, without the strong support of U.S. combat troops on the ground and a comprehensive strategy encompassing diplomatic, intelligence, economic and political fronts. Obama, however, has stated that there will not be a ground battle.

In recent years, Obama has been focusing on ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and pivoting to the Asia-Pacific region. Apart from the Middle East, the United States must watch out for other terror threats around the world, such as Khorasan, a group of senior Al Qaeda members who operate in Syria, that some U.S. officials said may be even more dangerous than the IS in some respects. For this reason, the Obama administration cannot throw itself into the fight against the IS.

The collaboration of the international counter-terrorism alliance is another challenge. Until now, only a small number of Western countries agreed to join in airstrikes against the IS. Despite unified support from Arabian allies, they have relatively limited military strength. Iraqi security forces should be the principal force, but its combat effectiveness has been weakened largely by internal religious conflicts and corruption.

In view of these facts, U.S. General John Allen, Obama's special envoy for coordinating international actions against the IS, called on U.S. allies to contribute more on October 27.

The Obama administration has excluded the possibility of cooperating with Iran and Syrian President al-Assad on fighting against the IS. Indeed, the White House has called on al-Assad to step down. Despite no direct intervention in Syria, the Obama administration expects the rebel army can overthrow the regime of

al-Assad. In his strategy, Obama plans to raise a 15,000-strong rebel army in Syria to fight against the IS. But rebel leaders in Syria say that they would reject joining a U.S.-backed force that is not aimed at defeating al-Assad, their main enemy.

Fighting against the IS is an asymmetric war. With the current strategy, the Obama administration cannot reach its goal in the short run. As Al Qaeda's influence spreads in South Asia, the United States may be faced with even more severe terror threats.

The author is a research fellow with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

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