Heritage Foundation on War & Peace

Stop ISIS from presenting itself as a credible government

Therefore, the Trump administration should accept that a huge amount of work lies ahead in the next three (or seven) years. The military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies will be at the forefront of the response. Yet stopping ISIS from presenting itself as a credible government in areas where it still retains a presence is also an important task. In those areas, the United States must help promote responsive and representative governance.

The administration must also frame the problem correctly. The Islamist threat will transcend any one presidency. Victory is not just around the corner. Nevertheless, the Trump administration could lay the groundwork for a strategy that will one day deliver it.

Hold Assad accountable for his war crimes

• Break the Islamic State's control of territory.
• Continue to focus on defeating both al-Qaeda and ISIS, including their regional affiliates.
• Be willing to capture the enemy
• Reform Interpol to improve tracking of foreign fighters.
• Urge NATO members to share the military burden.
• Be cognizant of the need to defeat Islamist ideology.
• Support measures to hold Bashar al-Assad accountable to the Syrian people. Assad must answer for his crimes, and the Syrian people should be given discretion as to how this process is conducted. Their options could include trial in a domestic court, inviting the International Criminal Court into Syria, or establishing a truth and reconciliation commission. Such a measure might also help to reduce the flow of foreign fighters into Syria.

Obama deal will marginally slow, but not halt, Iranian nukes

A: The agreement will marginally slow, but not halt, Iran's nuclear efforts. It has been incorrectly described as a "freeze," but many elements of Iran's nuclear program will continue. Iran is allowed to enrich uranium, despite the fact that this explicitly violates U.N. resolutions. The agreement does nothing to reduce Iran's stockpile of low enriched uranium, despite the fact that reactor will be fueled by the Russians for at least 10 years anyway.

Q: What is wrong with using this agreement as a first step?

A: This is a flawed deal that risks reducing sanctions pressure on Iran over the next six months in return for easily reversible Iranian pledges, some of which Iran has given before but subsequently reneged on. The nuclear deal requires Iran to curb some, but not all, of its nuclear activities in return for about $7 billion in sanctions relief over six months.

UN should authorize use of force against North Korea

Since the U.N. has been reluctant to impose measures, the U.S. should unilaterally:
• Insist that the next U.N. resolution allow for enforcement by military means. This would enable naval ships to intercept and board North Korean ships suspected of transporting precluded nuclear components.
• Demand that all U.N. member nations fully implement U.N. resolution requirements to prevent North Korea's procurement and proliferation of missile- and WMD-related items and technology.
• Publicly identify all North Korean and foreign banks, businesses, and government agencies suspected of violating U.N. resolutions.
• Freeze and seize the financial assets of any involved North Korean and foreign person, company, or government entity violating U.N. resolutions and U.S. or international law.
• Lead an international effort against North Korean illegal activities, including currency counterfeiting and drug smuggling.