1.0Defense Newshttps://one.sightlinemg.com/defensenewsmigrationhttps://one.sightlinemg.com/defensenews/author/migration/Allen: Degrading and Defeating ISILrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Kh4MtooXa7"><a href="https://one.sightlinemg.com/defensenews/commentary/2014/12/29/allen-degrading-and-defeating-isil/">Allen: Degrading and Defeating ISIL</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://one.sightlinemg.com/defensenews/commentary/2014/12/29/allen-degrading-and-defeating-isil/embed/#?secret=Kh4MtooXa7" width="600" height="338" title="“Allen: Degrading and Defeating ISIL” — Defense News" data-secret="Kh4MtooXa7" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script>
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https://one.sightlinemg.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/635545856656630267-2015outlook-allenjpgjpg.jpg?w=600600399In early June of this year, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters poured down the Tigris Valley. Multiple cities fell. The northern approaches to Baghdad were exposed to ISIL. Iraq was under siege, poorly governed and alone in the world.