Possible Ways of Defeating ISIS - Coursework Example

This research paper describes ways in which U.S and Iran will come up with strategies to defeat ISIS. The research questions that will be used to answer or cover this task will be addressed using International Relations theory of Realism. The first task of this paper is to identify ISIS and describe its main objectives. Through this, we should have an idea of how ISIS affects the interests of the U.S and Iran. The other task is to determine the abilities and strengths of ISIS. This will assist in knowing what keeps them on the move to look for areas that can be used while need for fighting them arises. The third task is explaining how U.S and Iran have to cooperate and how they are required to work together to defeat the Islamic State. This will be through applying the theory or Realism. Introduction ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) has been given another title that is more common at the moment. The ISIS, which refers to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/al-Sham. ISIS can be described as an extremist Islamic rebel group, which has authority over several territories in Syria and Iraq. It also has operations in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, eastern Libya and other parts of the world. This group has been constantly criticized by various nations and organizations in the world due to its violation of human rights and war crimes it is responsible for. The United Nations, United Kingdom, European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and others have all accredited it as a terrorist organization. In addition, to identify it, ISIS has took responsibility of several attacks and execution of America citizens, especially journalist in Syria, and American militants in the country. The executions are done online; that is the action is recorded and uploaded on the internet so as spread the message. The message and motive is to instill fear in America to meet the ISIS needs and claims (Zelin). They strategy is to capture American and hold them hostage, then demand for a ransom to release the hostages they have. ISIS was previously known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq. It came to be after a 2006 attack by the U.S. troops that seriously hampered the rebel group’s ability to perform its terrorist activities. From this, it reorganized itself and started rebuilding its strengths (Kaufman). ISIS is not a part of Al-Qaeda as they broke their ties after the then Al-Qaeda leader got frustrated by ISIS militants from defying his orders; of killing less Syrian civilians (BBC News). ISIS has expanded its territory, on the long border between Syria and Iraq. The weak government of Iraq and the Syrian civil war has enhanced this. ISIS has several numerous soldiers, which they have garnered from all over the world but most of them have been recruited locally. There is no exact number of soldiers that is known but estimates states around 15,000. Up to three times this number, or more, are available to fight at any given time if necessary. Their brutal attacks and killings have made it clear that they want to expand the parts that they control beyond Syria and Iraq. ISIS made their first attack on US when they posted a video of the beheading of an American journalist, which was aimed at intimidating them (Masi). Terrorism is defined as performing violence activities for political effect. The act of beheading the journalist was an act of terrorism on the American (Michael). Several attacks have been carried out making it clear that ISIS is capable of attacking the US. Besides having their own flag, the ISIS have continued to garner more territory; which can be estimated to be larger than the United Kingdom now. Their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi stated that all Muslims should reside under one Islamic state that will be ruled by sharia laws. The main goal of the ISIS is to control a huge state to the eastern side of the Mediterranean; that includes parts of Lebanon, Jordan and Cyprus (RT News). Their leader once was held in a US detention camp in Iraq, when he walked out. Now that we have established their identity, their objectives and how they affect the US and Iran is our next task. The first is devotion; devotion to the Islamic faith. The Islamic faith comprises of various beliefs, which the ISIS are devoted to follow. They want to eradicate all the immorality and the wrongdoings against the faith by all means, even if it means through performing mass killings. Through the takfiri doctrine, ISIS has a responsibility of purifying the world by killing numerous people (Alastair). The leaders of ISIS have taken emulation of Muhammad strictly and as their duty. They have revived traditions that had been forgotten for decades. They are not only literal about the traditions but also taking them seriously according to the Koran. Territory is a second goal of the ISIS (Wood). They want to gain control over a vast area of territory to have more power and wealth to sustain their activities. Numerous foreign Muslims have moved into the Islamic State. They have been recruited from United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, US, Australia, Holland, Indonesia, as well as many other countries. Most have come to fight and they intend to lose their lives while at it. Social sites and other online voices have been important in the spreading of propaganda and making sure that those being recruited know what to believe before they get into the State. Online recruitment has increased the jihadist community. Online recruiting allows conservative Muslim women to reach out to recruiters, modify and arrange passage of the recruited into Syria. Through ISIS appeal to both the male and female gender, ISIS hopes to build a huge and complete society. The apocalypse; meaning the end of the world (Wood). All Muslims know and respect that God is the only one with an idea of what the future is like. Also, he has given us a peek/clue about it; from the Koran and the Prophet’s narrations. During the final years of US occupation in Iraq, the State’s founding fathers recognized some signs of the final times everywhere. They were waiting for a messianic figure–Mahdi, who would lead them through victory before the apocalypse. ISIS supporters have expressed their deep interests in the apocalypse, as well as how the final days will look like. This is through several predictions, while others are through mainstream Islamic State’s propaganda; Sunni’s sources. Some of them include a belief that there will only exist 12 caliphs before the apocalypse; ISIS current leader is the eighth. Another is that armies from Rome will meet up with those of the Northern Syria, at Dabiq, and that the final showdown with an anti-Messiah will happen in Jerusalem. This will be after a duration of renewed Islamic conquest. Now that the ISIS has conquered Dabiq, they will await another enemy-army, whom they will fight and after the defeat will commence a countdown to the apocalypse (Bolger). Another objective of the Islamic State is fighting (Wood). The ideological purity of Islamic rebel groups has a compensating virtue, which is to allow people to get a grip of dome of the group’s actions. ISIS boasts openly and discloses its plans; enough details that if one pays keen attention will deduce how they intend to expand and govern. According to sources, ISIS has an obligation perform terror or harass its enemies. Which is a holy order, so as to make them scared; like they do with crucifixions and beheadings, as well as making women and children slaves (U.S. Congress, et. al). This is because doing such activities comes victory and prevents prolonged conflict. Islam religion allows numerous interpretations, while ISIS supporters are morally on the hook for the interpretation they go by or the one they choose. Muslims state that slavery is prohibited as it is illegitimate and that crucifixion is a wrong act. Most of them will say this, but they will not condemn the vices without contradicting the Koran and the Prophet’s example. Dissuasion is the other ISIS objective. To call the Islamic State un-Islamic, may be due to their acts, would be like inviting them into an argument, which they will win. There is no question that posed to them that will go un-answered or leave them stuttering. The teachings and narrations of the Prophet will have different interpretations among different Muslims, hence the differing aspects between various Muslims. No Muslim can tell the other to perform their religion properly as both of them have underlying explanations of their faith. This has been a major topic of discussion, and Muslims have debated it within their own ranks over a long time. For ISIS to have stayed in power this much, and for them to have garnered control over large areas using their 10,000 – 15,000 troops, there must have been underlying factors. The elements of strengths of the ISIS include Marginalization and desperation of Iraq Arab Sunnis and their leaders respectively. They needed to reach reconciliation with their Prime Minister (Shehata). This confusion and diversion of attention from security made the ISIS army get victory over the country. Another element is that the ISIS has been using social media for example Twitter to deliver messages and spread fear to their followers and enemies, respectively, all over the world. They have also used these social media to get new/recruit soldiers from the West and Europe (Shehata). Another strength that they have is that the State obtained heavy weapons and artillery, which they got after attacking the Iraq army in Mosul (Shehata). These weapons have assisted them gain more control over more areas and cities in Iraq. For ISIS to be defeated and degraded, the Iraq authority should develop strategies that will work by paralyzing such strengths that are making the Islamic State more powerful. In addition, they should work with countries from the West and Europe, as well as international bodies such as the United Nations. They will offer help and since the conflict is occurring in Iraq, working together with these countries will be of great heal in the defeat of the ISIS. The next task of this paper will be to discuss how Iran and US can work together to degrade ISIS. The strategies that they work together should be aimed at containing and degrading the ISIS threat that it poses to the global security. They should also improve the humanitarian crisis that is affecting numerous Syrians and Iraqis. The third objective it should have is to bring back the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq. A concentrated effort over time will be required to defeat ISIS. A foundation of regional cooperation between US and Iran and other partner nations will have to be built for any strategy that comes from them to be successful (Belcher, 94). The US will work with Iran in three ways in an effort to defeat ISIS. The first is to build and manage an international coalition to stabilize the region and defeat ISIS. The second is to increase support for Iran’s economic, political and security transitions; specifically with a US – Iran Strategic Framework Agreement. The third is to initiate a more intense effort to cease Syria’s Civil war, as well as supporting the development of a transitional government. Regional cooperation will be the first step to develop between the two countries. The US should raise common principles and specifics that the states in the region must conform to. These coordinated activities will assist in isolating and countering ISIS and respond better to the humanitarian catastrophe. The US can follow the following steps as an advantage of regional cooperation: They can develop an ISIS-focused intelligence center in that region. This will be an essential station as it will be easier to gather information on the rebel group and develop strategies to defeat them. At this station also, they will easily network with other intelligence centers around the region like the Turkish National Intelligence Organization and the Saudi Intelligence Service. With regional cooperation, the US can bring forth a multi-agency threat finance cell, which will be responsible for targeting the economic base of the ISIS. Some of the areas to target will be oil smuggling and extortion, which create illicit economies of ISIS, they will target their economy sources like taxation and also from external support. These stations will be essential in disrupting the criminal networks that ISIS uses to generate revenue (Pike). A transatlantic and allied response to the ISIS; this refers to joint efforts from other nations. This will enable the capable and reliable partners like Iran to direct the fight directly to ISIS. It will also boost intelligence fusion and law enforcement efforts to and counter ISIS and any other fighters who are in possession of Western passports. Engagement at the United Nations will also be an essential step in this coalition. This will assist in planning for a stabilization mission or a possible peacekeeping mission. Iran will form a base of these efforts and resources as the country nears the areas of the conflict. Through this, Iran can also be used as a place to harbor the displaced Syrians and Iraqis, who are the victims of the conflict that ISIS has caused. Some foreign fighter may be getting into the Islamic State through Iran, engagement with the UN will seek passage of a security resolution that will fight and curb this entry of the fighters through the country. The other objective of the Iran – US coalition is to improve support for Iraq, which will constitute political and diplomatic engagement, security assistance. Security assistance can be through maintaining military support to the Iraqi army, and carry on with intelligence and strikes, reconnaissance and surveillance support. All these strategies and activities will be done and managed on Iran’s soil due to the easy accessibility to the area of conflict and to maintain security of their personnel as Iran has not been greatly affected by the Islamic State. The third effort will be confronting ISIS directly in Syria. This is through expanding their airstrikes with the help of Iran and other nations like the Gulf partners (Cohen). Support for local actors like Iran will strengthen a third-way Syria opposition. In addition, it will expand the outreach to Sunni tribes in Syria to reduce ISIS influence on them. Conclusion ISIS control of huge portions of territory in Syria and Iraq creates a threat to American interests and to the Middle East stability (Katulis, Lang & Singh). If it is not rectified or corrected in time, its brutality, recruitment of foreign fighters and growing capacity will greatly influence and increase the risk of international terrorism. The United States can curb this threat in coalition with Iran and other partners through the various efforts that have been discussed. US engagement and leadership will be important to the successfulness of such efforts; global and regional coalition. This will present a chance to bring stability to the region, where Iran is part. Works Cited Alastair, C. (2014, September 5). You Cant Understand ISIS If You Dont Know the Hstory of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved from Huffington Post : m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5717157 Al-Qaeda disavows ISIS militants in Syria. (2014, February 3). Retrieved from BBC News: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26016318 Belcher, J. S. (2014). Aftermath: Rebuilding Global Security After a Century of Warfare. WorldCat. Bolger, D. P. (2015, February 1). The Truth About the Wars. Retrieved from New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/opinion/the-truth-about-the-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan.html%3F_r%3D1 Cohen, T. (2014, September 10). Obama Outlines ISIS Strategy: Airstrikes in Syria, more U.S. Forces. Retrieved from CNN: www.cnn.com/2014/09/10/politics/isis-obama-speech/ Katulis, B., Lang, H., & Singh, V. (2014, September 10). Defeating ISIS: An Integrated Strategy to Advance Middle East Stability. Retrieved from American Progress: www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2014/09/10/96739/defeatin-isis-an-integrated-strategy-to-advance-middle-east-stability/ Kaufman, G. (2014, August 21). What is ISIS? Retrieved from MTV: www.mv.com/news/1905299/what-is-isis-caliphate-james-foley/ Masi, A. (2014, August 19). Beheading Video Sends Brutal Message To America: What Does ISIS Want? Retrieved from Ibtimes: m.ibtimes.com/beheading-video-sends-brutal-message-america-what-does-isis-want-1663454 Michael, K. B. (2014). One Big Question Surrounds The Murder Of US Journalist James Foley By ISIS. Business Insider, 36. Pike, J. (2015, February 27). ISIS/Caliphate - Funding and Strength. Retrieved from Global Security: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/isil-2.htm RT News. (2014, June 20). All you need to know about ISIS and what is happening in Iraq. Retrieved from RT: Question More Live: rt.com/news/166836-isis0isil-al-qaeda-iraq/ Shehata, S. (2014, August 18). The Islamic State (ISIL): Strengths and Weaknesses. Retrieved from Ahram Online: english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/4/0/108389/Opinion/The-Islamic-State-ISIL-Strengths-and-weaknesses.aspx U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, Wikimedia Foundation, Foreign Affairs Committee, Bureau of Counterterrorism, Australian National Security. (2014). The ISIS Threat: The Rise of the Islamic State andtheir Dangerous Potential. Providence Research. Wood, G. (2015, March). What ISIS Really Wants. Retrieved from The Atlantic: www.theatlantic.com/features/archives/what-isis-really-wants Zelin, A. Y. (2014, July 8). Colonial Caliphate: The Ambitions of the Islamic State. Retrieved from The Washington Institute: www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/colonial-caliphate-the ambitions-of-the-islamic-state Read More