But at present, the actual extent of the group's danger to the U.S. homeland is a matter of speculation, and its dangers are dulled somewhat thanks to ISIS's current capabilities and goals, and American counter-terror advances since the September 11th attacks.
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The group has connected its legitimacy to its ability to hold onto land, while also provoking every potential rival fighting force on its "Caliphate's" periphery.
"Once ISIS begins to experience a reversal, things could go badly for it very quickly," says Gartenstein-Ross.