The Opinion Pages
Room for Debate

August 22, 2014

Should the U.S. Work With Assad to Fight ISIS?

Introduction

DESCRIPTIONDemonstrators in Damascus carrying placards depicting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Youssef Badawi/European Pressphoto Agency

The beheading of the captured American journalist James Foley has led many to say that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has shown itself to be a threat not just to Iraq but to the United States. Administration officials say they are considering action in Syria, where that militant group is still based. (And even supporters of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria are said to be pushing him to do more to fight the group, and welcoming American attacks on ISIS.)

But is the need to defeat ISIS so great that the West should ally with Assad?

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Debaters

  • Ryan C. Crocker

    Airstrikes on ISIS Should Expand to Syria

    Ryan C. Crocker, Former ambassador

    This doesn't mean coordination or alliance with Assad. We simply need to fight an enemy of the United States and not get involved in Syria's civil war.

  • Max Abrahms

    Help Assad to Fight the Greater Evil

    Max Abrahms, Northeastern University

    Make no mistake, Assad and ISIS are both evil, but the Syrian dictator poses no threat to American citizens, and ISIS clearly does.

  • Rachel Bronson

    Militarily, the Focus Should Be on Iraq

    Rachel Bronson, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

    Although ISIS cannot be defeated without destroying its sanctuary in Syria, diplomatic action between the U.S. and Iran is the better path to dealing with Assad.

  • Hassan Hassan

    Assad Has Never Fought ISIS Before

    Hassan Hassan, Syrian journalist

    Assad is as capable of fighting ISIS as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was when the terrorist group took over three Iraqi provinces.

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