Islamic State and International Terrorism - Term Paper Example

ISLAMIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM Introduction Terrorism has often been estimated as one of the grave issues that craves the attention of majority of the world nations. It can be defined as, “The discriminate use of threat or violence to advance, social, political, economic, or religious objectives by creating a climate of fear” (Shimko 298). There may not be any nation in the world which has either directly or indirectly faced the threat of terrorism and its far-reaching reverberations. This causes for viewing terrorism as a formidable evil that should be wiped off from the world. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 clearly unveil the real face of terrorism that counted the lives of thousands of innocent people. Analyzing some of the recent incidents it is quite evident that the terrorist attacks are increasing day by day and there occurs a number of causalities and death. The recent terrorist attacks The recent reports appeared in the media relating to terrorism is quite alarming. The suicide bombings which tolled the lives of about 70 people and more than 100 causalities in Yemen in two separate incidents on 9th October, the death of two dozen people in a suicide bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq on 1st November, the murder of six guards riddled with bullets in Philippines on November 2nd this year, are some of the recent terrorist attacks. Analyzing the recent terrors in the world, it is quite visible that it is none other than the Islamic States who executed thousands of men in the Middle-East countries. They conduct massive attacks with latest weapons and have already conquered a major portion of this region. According to the media reports that appeared on 30th October, the Islamic State executed one-hundred and fifty Iraqi villagers, and threw their bodies into a mass grave. This incident is one among the deadly attacks of the Islamic State which form a parallel government in the Middle East region now. The political situation and the formation of ISIS ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) has been identified as a Sunni, extremist, jihadist group which proclaimed themselves to be a parallel state based on Caliphate and establishes its power in Iraq and Syria in the Middle East. It is often viewed as the true adherent of al-Qaeda and implemented the draconian Sharia law, which in reality curtailed almost all the freedoms of women folk. This law strictly suggests the women to cover themselves from head to toe, denies education, and even restricting the food items that women can purchase. When the U.S. troops in Iraq exercised strict actions to regulate these terrorist groups, they found the fertile soil to cultivate the seed of terrorism in Pakistan. Therefore, the al-Qaeda decides to establish the new Caliphate, a new government that would effectively execute their killing spree. The new Caliphate was very significant to the ISIS as it purports to establish an Islamic State which would ultimately lead to a universal religion or global Islamic state. This political ides of Islam is embodied in the concept of the ummah (community), which is the idea that all Muslims, wherever they reside, are bound together through a common faith that transcends all geographical, political, or national boundaries (Sekulow 17). It is their belief in Allah and to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad forms the bond. The Islamic government pursues the Sharia law in the countries under their control. The Islam divides the world into two spheres: the house of Islam, (dar-al-Islam) and the house of war (dar-al-harb) (Sekulow 17). The countries and the territories under the rule of Islam are generally referred as the house of Islam and the regions under the control of the non-Muslims are the house of war. The Jihadists interprets that there will be continuous conflict between these two groups until the house of war is defeated and a unique Islamic State or the Caliphate is established. The main agenda of the ISIS is to execute such a plan and bring the world under the Islamic state rule. The Power Politics and Distribution of Power Analyzing the dynamics of the ISIS, it is crystal clear that they are motivated only on the basis of religion. They are having the Utopian concept that the world nations will be one, just opposing to the modernist alternatives. In a way they are trying to impose power politics on the world nations. It is identifiable that the ISIS came into the scene to fill the vacuum in Iraq, fundamentally created by U.S. foreign policy (Real News Network). When Iraq became weak under the continuous attacks from the U.S. troops, and the new government was suffocating to pacify the Sunni-Shia conflicts, the ISIS exploited the situation very well. They killed thousands of Sunnis from the different regions and conducted public executions, crucifixions and other acts. Regarding the distribution of power, the phrase ‘power through strength’ has decisive role. It has already been identified that only through democracy we can assure security and peace in a particular region. When a nation becomes more powerful, the chances of war may also increase. However, it is sure that a nation should be powerful enough to protect the well being of its people. “The expression ‘peace through strength’ reflects the commitment to power politics, a perspective in which international politics inevitably entails “perceptions of insecurity (the security dilemma); struggle for power, the use of Machiavellian Stratagems; the presence of coercion; attempts to balance power; and the use of war to settle disputes” (Shimko 60). Evaluating the situations in Iraq on this ground after the ISIS attack, it is identifiable that the distribution of power in Iraq was improper and as such the Islamic state could fruitfully use this circumstance to intrude into the governmental affairs and form a parallel government. The Islamic state currently has the control over hundreds of square miles. It ignores international borders and has a presence from Syrias Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad (CNN). It is quite alarming that the Islamic state is spreading in the world through its heinous crimes and massive murders like the cannibals. They implement various plans and provisions for different regions to grab power. However, their basic instinct to shatter the fraternity and equality and to inflict religion will certainly inflame the world nations. The Political Motives It is crystal clear that ISIS cannot be a fully fledged terrorist wing without the support of some nations. It is certain that some nations have the evil plans to exercise their interests in a particular region and as such they use the terrorist groups to bend it in their way. The world has already seen such unsanctified alliances which in time may turn against them. The Israel support to the ISIS of Syria and Iraq has some hidden agendas. They love the massive ISIS control of Iraq and Syria, but they want to keep the bloodshed going, and not to have one side win because they see it as a “divide and conquer” scenario that weakens Israel’s enemies (David Duke). Thus, it throws light to the policies and practices of some world nations to keep protect their interests by nourishing the terrorist groups. The segregation of the world nations as Core, Periphery, Semi periphery, and so on are, in a way the outcome of such special interests. When the wealthiest nations in the world are referred to as the ‘core nations’ as they are hoarding majority of the wealth, the countries that are not reaping the benefits of the global wealth are ‘periphery.’ The core nations are always looking forward for hoarding more and more wealth and as such they find out the best means for looting the wealth of the weak. Majority of the British and American invasions in the world are often criticized thus. It is often criticized that the Iraq invasion of America was by keeping an eye on the oil wealth of that country. America used Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda effectively against Saddam Hussein, though the decision proved faulty in later history. Same is the case with the Islamic state because; some of the core countries like Israel are executing their hidden agendas through them. The State as well as International Level Influence The question that whether terrorism affects state level or international level is very significant. Though there are many interpretations and arguments concerning this issue, one should acknowledge the fact that “Terrorist organization must still operate within states, their targets are often states, their objectives usually involve changing the behavior of states, and their activities take place within the same international system in which states operate” (Shimko 302). It makes clear that the ISIS and other terrorist groups, though they are specifically focusing on particular regions or countries, their actions have far reaching implications internationally. The best example is the 9/11 attack where it directly affected America but it had far-reaching international consequences and a great cosmopolitan response. Terrorism has often been identified as affecting the various power potentials of a state. It includes the natural, tangible and intangible. Terrorists often aim at the various power potentials of a state because by getting hold of sources they could control the states and it would also satisfy them financially. A recent report of the CNN says, “ISIS, in control of a large swathe of eastern Syria, is now handling 60% of the countrys oil assets and producing 50,000 barrels a day. This is not full capacity -- pre-conflict, the assets would have produced around 220,000 barrels a day out of the countrys 385,000, according to Iraq Energy Institute figures” (al-Khatteeb). The report also identifies that ISIS also handle at least 25,000 barrels of oil a day in north and mid-west Iraq even though it is only a small portion of the country’s total production. They also get control over various airports, gas stations, and other natural resources. In addition to the control of the natural power potentials, the ISIS exerts its influence on various sectors. As in the case of many other terrorist groups, ISIS also initiates to create a total deranging in the nation through various means. The Moral and Cultural dimensions of a state is being disturbed or destroyed by negatively influencing the values, ethnic/religious identities. It is evident from their intervention in Iraq and Syria where they have wielded certain influence in the government and its smooth functioning. A recent report of the International Monetary Fund, published in website says that the Islamic state has even caused for an economic crisis in Iraq. The report says, “Another crisis is percolating in Iraq beneath the onslaught of Islamic State militants: …Iraq’s economy is set to shrink by 2.75% in 2014, the International Monetary Fund said last week” (Bradley). It is the sufficient evidence that how terrorism causes for an economic imbalance. Psychological Impacts Besides the economic and political inconsistencies, terrorism also causes for psychological problems. Terrorism is specifically designed to have far-reaching psychological effects beyond the immediate victims or objects of terrorist attack (Shimko 299). The psychological blow of the Americans after the 9/11 attacks was immeasurable that it took much time for many to recover from the psychological distress. Here one can agree with Shimko when he adopted Cindy Combs’ definition of terrorism and wrote thus, “involve[ing] an act of violence, an audience, the creation of a mood of fear, innocent victims, and political goals or motives” (Shimko 302). When analyzing majority of the terrorist groups in the world, one can see that their main intension is to create violence and terror by keeping secret political goals or motives. Conclusion Terrorism, as it has been discussed earlier, is an international terror which directly or indirectly affects the world nations. The terrorists use violence or threat as their chief weapon in order to attain social, political, economic, or religious objectives. The study has proved that Islamic state in Iraq and Syria certainly belongs to the definition of terrorist group as it uses violence and threat to grab power in the Middle East. They have clear religious and political objectives. They create the climate of fear and mislead people in the name of religion. ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is a Sunni, extremist, jihadist group which follow Caliphate and proposes the false conception that the universal religion or global Islamic state will to come into existence. They engage in heinous crimes and murders thousands of innocent people by blindly pursuing such a utopian concept. The study has also exposed that many nations are providing support to such terrorist gangs in order to execute their hidden agendas. Here in the case of ISIS, it is evident that they get the support of Israel as Israel wants its enemies to get weakened through ‘divide and conquer.’ Terrorism affects the state level and the international level while the terrorist groups get control over the power potentials of a state. When the ISIS conquered the oil and other natural wealth in Iraq, it had severe impacts on the world oil industry. To conclude, one can state that the ISIS is a terrorist group as it fulfills most of the propositions through the violent attacks, massive killings, political, economic, and religious motives and many other factors. Works cited: al-Khatteeb, Luay. Will U.S. strikes hurt ISIS oil riches? CNN. Sep. 25, 2014. Web. Nov.8, 2014. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/22/business/isis-oil-luay-al-khatteeb/ Bradley, Matt. Iraq Plagued by Budget Crisis Amid Menace of Islamic State. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 2014. Web. Nov.8, 2014. http://online.wsj.com/articles/iraq-plagued-by-budget-crisis-amid-menace-of-islamic-state-1415231221 CNN. ISIS Fast Facts. CNN Library. Nov. 6, 2014. Web Nov.11, 2014. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/08/world/isis-fast-facts/ David Duke.com. Zionist Leader Admits Jewish Supremacist Policy & Goes Against America in Iraq. June 29, 2014. Web. Nov.8, 2014. http://davidduke.com/divide-conquer-zionist-leaders-open-admission-jewish-supremacist-policy/ Jay. Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Cant Ignore. Simon and Schuster, 2014. Print. RealNewsNetwork.com. ISIS Fills Power Vacuum in Iraq Fundamentally Created by U.S. Foreign Policy. Real News Network. Oct.3, 2014. Web. 8 Nov, 2014. http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11986 Shimko, Keith. International Relations: Perspectives, Controversies and Readings, 4th revised edition, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Read More