Territorial gains count for little in fight with IS

Anyone who  believes that suicide bombings are the dying sting of Islamic State is mistaken writes Peter Van Buren

Tuesday’s attacks at Istanbul’s main airport, which appears to be the work of Islamic State, are the latest reminder that the world should not downplay the group’s rudimentary, yet effective, tactics.

Since the wave of Islamic State suicide bombings in May — killing 522 people inside Baghdad, and 148 people inside Syria — officials have downplayed the strategy as defensive.