Saddam-era officers have been a powerful factor in the rise of Islamic State, in particular in the Sunni militant group's victories in Iraq last year. Islamic State then out-muscled the Sunni-dominated Baath Party and absorbed thousands of its followers. The new recruits joined Saddam-era officers who already held key posts in Islamic State.
The Baathists have strengthened the group's spy networks and battlefield tactics and are instrumental in the survival of its self-proclaimed Caliphate, according to interviews with dozens of people, including Baath leaders, former intelligence and military officers, Western diplomats and 35 Iraqis who recently fled Islamic State territory for Kurdistan.
I've noted Strategypage posts on exactly this subject, but I don't think I've ever seen the media address the ability of the "secular" Baathists to once again team up with the jihadis in an effort to dominate Iraq.
After the first round in 1991-2002, we weakened Saddam's state.
In the second round in 2003-2008, we destroyed Saddam's state and killed Saddam and his evil spawn.
In the third round that began last year, perhaps we can finally kill off Saddam's organization once and for all by killing them and the Islamic State they hope to ride back to power.
