TUNIS ATTACK – AT 9:08 A.M. ET:  In the aftermath of the attack yesterday on a museum in Tunis, authorities have started to make arrests.  While no group has claimed credit, eyes are on ISIS.  Thousands of Tunisians have gone to other countries to join ISIS, and some of them are now returning, well trained.  From BBC:

Once regarded as a beacon of secularism in the Arab world, Tunisia has seen militant Islamists gain strength since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising in 2011.

The attack on the famous Bardo museum in the capital, Tunis, was the deadliest since the revolution, with at least 19 people - mostly European tourists - killed.

No group has said it carried out the attack, but Tunisian officials have pointed at fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS), which is fighting in Iraq and Syria and has a foothold in neighbouring Libya.

Tunisian authorities say up to 3,000 of its citizens have gone abroad to wage jihad - including to Syria and Iraq - making them the largest number of foreign fighters to join IS's ranks, according to some researchers.

Some of the militants are now said to have returned, increasing the security threat.

The attack is a big blow to Tunisia's new secular-led government, which vowed to take a tougher line against the militants after it defeated the moderate Islamist Ennahda party in elections last year.

Having won the first post-revolution election, Ennahda was accused of being soft on jihadist groups - a perception which grew after leading secular politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi were assassinated in 2013.

Tunisia has also battled al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) along its border with Algeria.

COMMENT:  It is striking to see just how quickly ISIS and its affiliated groups have gained influence, not only in the Mideast, but in Europe.  Attacks are now frequent, almost commonplace. 

Several days ago, Barack Obama tried to blame the rise of ISIS on George W. Bush.  His comments were met with general ridicule.  Next he should try blaming Teddy Roosevelt, another boisterous Republican.

March 19,  2015