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(The West’s War against Islamic State)

: Andrew Mumford
: 06 Chapters and Conclusion
: 147

Dr. Andrew Mumford is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham (UK). He is also Deputy Head of the School of Politics and International Relations. He has written three books on elements of modern war and its political management. His latest book Counter-Insurgency Warfare and the Anglo-American Alliance was published in 2018 with Georgetown University Press. His previous books include the Counter-Insurgency Myth (2011) and Proxy Warfare (2013), and two edited collections. He has acted as a consultant to the UK Ministry of Defense and NATO on issues about modern warfare.
Andrew Mumford offers a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the military campaign deployed against ISIS in Syria and Iraq by examining the West's strategic objectives. However, the conflicting interests of the rival powers, namely Russia, Iran, and Turkey. By examining individual operational components of this military engagement such as drone usage, cyber warfare, special forces operations, and sponsorship of guerrilla forces, this book offers a unique insight into the nature of modern warfare.
On the 29th of June 2014, ISIS declared the establishment of a caliphate stretching across territories in Iraq and Syria. In response, Operation Inherent Resolve, a US-led 77 nation coalition, was launched to respond to the threat of the Islamic State. The West's War Against Islamic State offers the first history of Operation Inherent Resolve and the West's war against ISIS, from its inception in 2014 to the fall of Raqqa in 2017.
Andrew Mumford's book gives us a clear picture of the evolution of ISIS and the number of counter-campaigns against ISIS. He also tries to discuss various military campaigns against militant groups and the rise of proxy groups. Additionally, author dwells light on the US and Western alliance pact, that had failed after some time. The book is a very good overview of the actions of the international coalition against ISIS and all the challenges that continue to exist today.

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This book starts with an introduction and has six more chapters where he discusses different topics, and ends with a positive conclusion. The book opens by tracing the lineage of ISIS, from its genesis in the wake of American’s invasion of Iraq to the outbreak of civil war in Syria. In the very first chapter, the author deals with the ideological underpinnings of the militant groups in the Middle East and tries to attempt to reconcile their actions and beliefs while using them against American troops. Additionally, chapters two chart out the course of the US policy towards ISIS from Barak Obama’s initial dismissal of the group as a “Jayvee team” which was established to counter militant groups in the Middle East, but had failed.
Chapters three dwell on important indirect wars against ISIS, as the US policymakers launched in the regions by using different competing proxy groups. Chapter four evaluates the collective legacy of the ground and Ariel strands of the campaign, namely the air war against ISIS. Chapter five explores how ISIS used cyberspace and investigates the counter-measures against US forces. Chapter six traces how strategic objectives and operational designs were hampered by rival powers by trying to engineer their outcomes in the war against ISIS i.e. Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
In conclusion, the author comes with some positive approaches by arguing that the new world would change the fate of this region. He also argues that confrontation is not the solution of the problems. As famous revolutionary personality Nelson Mandela once said, darkness could not be removed by darkness, only light could remove it. Realistic speaking, war is not the solution. Let’s hope for a better future and a peaceful world.

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It would not be wrong to say that Andrew Mumford is a very good academic writer. But, there are some loopholes in his book that I’m trying to discuss one by one. Firstly, author tries to study the whole region through a US-centric approach and just sheds light over the US policies and their outcomes. Secondly, he presents one side of the story and does not discuss flaws in the US invasions, which rise to ISIS in the Middle East and other militant groups. Thirdly, there are repetitions of ideas in chapters. Fourthly, he ignores the voices of the middle east people and focus on American policies and their glorification. Last but not the least, the retreat of Western coalitions also increase tension for the people of the middle, hence the do not bother himself to discuss western powers blunders. Hiding blunders with glorifications would only increase misunderstanding in the common people, that would very serious repercussions in the future.

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To cut short the long story, it is a worth reading book having lots of ideas and knowledge about the Middle East from 2002-2018. I recommended this book to all of you who are more interested in the genesis of ISIS, US counter-policies, and emergencies of proxy groups in the Middle East. Best Luck.

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