Washington needs new thinking must be developed to prevent home-grown extremist threats. Besides treating them as part of the international anti-terror war and further strengthening efforts against violent extremism at home, the US should demonstrate a greater sense of responsibility in eliminating their sources in the world.

Overthrowing the autocratic regime of Saddam Hussein inflamed the Sunni-Shiite rivalry in the Middle East, and provided a breeding ground for the Islamic State. The new wave of terror attacks in Europe is also the bitter result of its irresponsible policies during the Arab Spring, and the consequences are fueling ongoing resentment toward Western governments.

China has neither the military infrastructure nor the political will to strike IS forces on the ground in the Middle East. But China continues to build its military capacity and is by no means looking for a “free ride” in the Middle East.

The first round of the talk between the Syrian government and opposition parties is expected to be held for two to three weeks, discussing the political process, ceasefire, provisions for humanitarian assistance, and the fight against terrorism. The good news is that Russia and the United States have reached common ground in their mediation efforts.

Having incubated the Daesh in its global war on terror, the US must take the responsibility to destroy it. Washington cannot sit back and expect the international community to defeat the Daesh forces without US leadership.

While Moscow-Ankara tensions are in the short-term spotlight, a different bilateral relationship will shape the outcome of Middle East conflicts. Should the militaries of Russia and US cooperate fully, the complete collapse of ISIS could be expected soon, as Russia’s foreign minister recently noted. Such a truly united front in the war on terrorism would be a gratifying achievement on the world stage.

Russian relations with NATO have tensed up as a result of Moscow’s intervention and squabble with Turkey, as the US re-weighs its core interests and level of involvement on the ground in the region.

Effective cooperation among all nations to throttle terrorists’ means of fund-raising – particularly oil deals -- is urgently needed in the global war against terrorism. But that short-term goal must be followed by a long-term objective: stability in the Mideast region.

Presently, public sentiment to minimize the risk of terror is on the rise, one of the factors prompting the US to reassess its strategic goals in the Middle East. The result is a more united front in the war against terrorism.

The global community needs the participation of countries where the IS and other terror groups have made their bases, with the help and backing of the broad masses of Muslim people in the region. Outside force has proven to be inadequate to eliminate the violence and the root causes behind it, and serious nation-building is required.