What ISIS Really Wants

The Islamic State has been viewed, variously, as a collection of nihilistic psychopaths and as a direct descendant of Al Qaeda that shares the parent organization’s strategy and goals. Scrutiny of the group’s statements, as well as conversations with its overseas supporters, suggest both impressions are dangerously misleading. The group’s ideology suggests avenues for defeat, and cautious optimism for a strategy of containment. In his current Atlantic essay “What ISIS Really Wants,” Graeme Wood explores these facets of ISIS, the forces arrayed against it, and offers insights into today’s foremost security challenge for the Middle East and the United States. Please join author Graeme Wood and CSIS’ Tom Sanderson for an eye-opening TNT Terrorism Roundtable. Featuring: Graeme Wood Contributing Editor The Atlantic Moderated by: Tom Sanderson Co-director and Senior Fellow Transnational Threats Project, CSIS