Is ISIS Winning?

Since January 2015, ISIS has lost 22 percent of its territory inside Iraq and Syria. Iraqi forces are moving toward re-taking Mosul, ISIS’s key remaining stronghold inside Iraq. Several top commanders have been killed, and defections have increased. According to U.S. officials, the number of ISIS fighters is at its lowest level since 2014.

At the same time, ISIS is responsible for attacks in the United States, France, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, Libya and dozens of other countries. More than 1,200 people outside of Iraq and Syria have been killed in attacks inspired or coordinated by the Islamic State. The number and pace of global attacks by ISIS seems to be growing.

Fifteen years after the September 11 attacks, are civilized societies winning or losing in the global war on terrorism? What does winning even look like? What strategies should we pursue? Join us in our next McCain Institute debate, as leading national experts debate the question: Is ISIS winning?

Confirmed speakers:  

Peter Bergen 
Vice President, New America
Professor, Arizona State University

Sebastian Gorka
Vice President and Professor of Strategy and Irregular Warfare
Institute of World Politics

The Honorable Mary Beth Long 
CEO, Metis Solutions, LLC
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs

Douglas A. Ollivant
ASU Senior Fellow, Future of War Project, New America

Moderator: 

The Honorable Juan Zarate
Chairman of the Financial Integrity Network
Former Deputy National Security Advisor for CT

Join @McCainInstitute for a lively discussion as leading experts answer the question: Is ISIS Winning? #MIDebate