In 2015, each new crime committed by Daesh militants caused a fresh surge of panic in Western countries, and 2016 begins "with the barbarians of our day at the gates, even within our city walls," according to Dejevsky, whose think piece was published by the UK newspaper The Independent.
She said that the threat emanating from Daesh has been exaggerated and that it is necessary to "take another look at the evidence."
In particular, Dejevsky pointed to Daesh terrorists being driven out of the Iraqi city of Ramadi by the country's army supported by Western air support. She drew attention to the fact that "the city was considered safe enough for the country's Prime Minister to visit."
UN, US, UK, France & Iran officially congratulate Iraqi government on victory in Ramadi against Daesh terrorists pic.twitter.com/wJdSLQv7JO
— Iraq Live Update (@IraqLiveUpdate) 29 декабря 2015
At the same time, she warned against exaggerating the significance of one victory, saying that "it would be reckless to argue that the tide has turned," and that the great sweep of Daesh all across the Middle East "has been forced into reverse."
Iraqi forces & Anti Terrorism unit enter al-Haooz area in #Ramadi and liberate the area from #Daesh terrorists pic.twitter.com/t5af717rZG
— IraqInsider (@iraqinside) 27 декабря 2015
"But what has happened should give pause to all those who have peddled the idea of ISIS as an all-conquering force – that 'existential threat' – that must be fought with all our might," Dejevsky said.
According to her, due to the impressive Daesh enlargement and "the ruthless genius of its propaganda," Western countries did not pay attention to Daesh's weak points.
Keep going! Iraqi troops advance to Haouz area located in the center of Ramadi, captured by Daesh. UNSTOPPABLE✌ pic.twitter.com/tMMsnjrG3u
— Dhurgham (@Dhurgham88) 26 декабря 2015
"The ideology behind ISIS is medieval, even pre-medieval. Many of its ways are barbaric. Is it realistic to believe – still less fear – that ISIS will endure?" Dejevsky said.
Also, she wondered how cohesive Daesh is and how wide its actual reach will spread.
"Perhaps the dreaded ISIS, like al-Qaeda before it, is more of a label that extremist groups adopt to be feared in the timorous West?" she said.
She added that the successes of Daesh, in fact, shed light on this jihadist group's restricted powers.
Ramadi almost free of daesh presence now, lots still left to do with dismantling booby traps and securing city limits. Good job ISF
— Sajad Jiyad سجاد (@SajadJiyad) 27 декабря 2015
In Iraq, Daesh succeeded mainly as a result of Western failures, according to Dejevsky, who recalled that the US and Britain ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein provoked widespread chaos in the country.
"ISIS moved in offering security, albeit of a primitive kind. The US and the UK dispossessed the once-dominant Sunnis; ISIS offered them a way back," she said.
She also said that the focus on Daesh "has directly damaging consequences" because by concentrating on this terrorist group, Western governments have turned a blind eye to other "regional shifts" in the Middle East.
"ISIS is not the first monster enemy to be harnessed to the cause of flailing governments, but its defeat in Ramadi should encourage it to be seen with a new sense of proportion," Dejevsky concluded.
