(Straits Times) The appointment of veteran Kathleen Troia McFarland as deputy national security adviser confirms that President-elect Donald Trump will prioritise the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), analysts say.
Ms. McFarland, who has a long record of national security experience, shares the same belief as her direct boss, national security adviser Michael Flynn, that ISIS is a significant threat to the US.
Both believe the administration of President Barack Obama has mishandled the threat and advocate a more robust approach to countering ISIS terrorism.