Introduction

Youssef Badawi/European Pressphoto Agency

The beheading of the captured American journalist James Foley has led many to say that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has shown itself to be a threat not just to Iraq but to the United States. Administration officials say they are considering action in Syria, where that militant group is still based. (And even supporters of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria are said to be pushing him to do more to fight the group, and welcoming American attacks on ISIS.)

But is the need to defeat ISIS so great that the West should ally with Assad?