Islamic State fighters parade on military vehicles along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province.

Analysis: Concerns Rise About US Intel Capabilities On IS -- Voice of America

Concerns about the capabilities of U.S. intelligence agencies have been steadily rising, sparked in part by comments from President Barack Obama that they “underestimated” the rise of the group known as Islamic State.

But far from an intelligence failure, insiders and analysts warn the furor is symptomatic of larger problems that could haunt the U.S. in years to come.

For weeks, Islamic State militants have besieged Kobani, the majority-Kurd Syrian city at the doorstep of NATO partner Turkey. Yet for weeks, U.S. military leaders said Kobani was not the focus of anti-IS strategy.

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My Comment: Much of the problem with understanding and analyzing the Islamic State has been due to politics .... not intelligence. This VOA post explains why .... and it is a sobering read.