Attacking Quote by Richard Engel
“Assad's regime helped ISIS grow by attacking other opposition forces and rarely targeting ISIS.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: PBS Frontline documentary on Middle East conflicts, 2019
He claims the Syrian regime unintentionally aided ISIS by focusing attacks on opposition, allowing ISIS to expand.
In simple terms: Syria's focus on rebels helped ISIS grow.
Key Takeaway
Consider unintended consequences of military strategy.
Themes
war
terrorism
geopolitics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
journalistic
informative
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- military planning
- counterterrorism strategy
Key Concepts
state behavior
blowback
non-state actors
Questions to Reflect On
- What other factors contributed to ISIS's rise?
- How can governments avoid empowering extremist groups?
A Different Perspective
The claim may oversimplify complex alliances.
![“I think that by arming the allies of ISIS, the Islamic rebels against [Bashar] Assad, that we created a safe space or made that space bigger for ISIS to grow.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ed/rand-paul-606_allies_i-think-that-by-arming-the-allies-of-isi_1139127.jpg)
