In the past two weeks, revelations have mounted that the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria and Iraq is flagging. The commander of U.S. Central Command testified that only a handful of moderate fighters trained in an American program are ready for combat; investigators began probing whether officials distorted claims of progress; and a Kurdish offensive has ground to a halt. But if the drive to “degrade and ultimately defeat” these extremists is troubled, maybe part of the reason is that the military campaign is all we talk about most of the time?

The urgent need to counter the self-styled Islamic State and violent extremism writ large — the focus of a White House summit this past February — takes top billing again this week as world leaders gather in New York for the start of the 70th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Reposted with permission from ForeignPolicy.com, Source: “Four Lessons for Fighting Extremists – Without Guns"