The Fall of Aleppo.

 Syria is back in the news because “insurgents” have taken control of Aleppo.  I don’t pretend to understand what is going on in that far distant place, but I see it as an apt example of the “Radical Islamist Problem” that I try to argue is the most difficult political problem facing humanity.  My guess is that a close look at the Syrian situation would result in the conclusion that Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham is the principal force behind the recent developments in Aleppo.  Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham is an outgrowth of Al Qaeda and represents one of the most viral radical Islamist organizations anywhere in the world.  The problems that we face in resolving the fighting in Ukraine pale in comparison with the problems that we face in Gaza, and those pale in comparison with the problems that we face in Syria.  Over a very long period of time, the Syrian Government, with the assistance of Russia, concentrated the most radical elements of the Opposition to Assad in a northern corner of the country.  The attack on Aleppo came out of this salient and, while it represents an enormous embarrassment for Damascus, it probably does not presently risk spreading to the rest of the country.  All it means is that a lot more people are going to die in more mindless warfare.  Turkey will keep close watch on the situation and will involve itself wherever and whenever the fighting threatens to spill over into Turkey and will take every opportunity to use the situation as cover for its campaign against Kurdish political and military machination inside Turkey.  My guess is that Russia will not be able to devote as much attention to the situation as it would like because of Ukraine, and Teheran will not because of what is happening in Lebanon and Gaza.  Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham intends to take full advantage of the situation, but I doubt that they will be able to go on and overthrow Assad as they would dearly love to do. 

I offer Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham as an example of the difficulty that we face in dealing with Radical islam, not as a significant threat in and of itself.  The particulars involved with other Radical islamist groups are different, but the challenge that arises from the world view that these Radical Islamist groups have in common is the threat that I am trying to identify.  Give them nuclear weapons and some of them will advocate using them to purify humanity.