The Terrorist Group ISIS - Research Paper Example

The Terrorist Group ISIS The Islamic terrorist group ISIS has proved to be one of the most dangerous terrorist groups that the world has come to know. They have even been termed as the most radical group to ever sought to bring change to Islamic states by some of the terror organizations that exist, for example; the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. The group has become a transnational organization, which has its reach far beyond Iraq and Syria. Some experts even go ahead to claim that ISIS has a part to play in the conflict in Nigeria and Libya (Zavadski 1). The group has received condemnation for their ideologies and principles from all around the world, and especially from the Muslim community, which believes that this group does not represent the faith that is Islam. This paper will take a closer look at the group, and examine the principles that make it such a threat to the freedom and liberties of all people. According to different sources, this group was initially a part of the main group al-Qaeda, but their involvement in the Syrian war made them change their name from ISI (Islamic State of Iraq) to ISIL or ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). In 2014, the group sought to change their name to Islamic State, and proclaimed their organization to be a worldwide caliphate. This prompted criticism from different governments, Muslim leaders, and the United Nations calling out the leader of the group and refusing to acknowledge the power the group claims to have over all Muslims, their states, organizations, and even the different religious groups in the world (Tran and Weaver 1). Literature Review The presence of the Islamic State in some of the warring countries is something that is quite disheartening. It is their ideologies and principles that make them a particularly cruel and calculating group of extremists. Their thoughts on what is right and wrong may be the key to unlocking some of the thoughts they have on the people they unleash terror upon, and the reason why they are becoming intolerable even to their Muslim folk (Crooke 1). It is this form of cruelty that begs the question as to whether this group is motivated by religious beliefs, or if the group has other underlying agendas. The criticism they have received seems to have no impact on their actions as more people continue to suffer at the hands of the Islamic State (IS) organization. Women, who speak out against the organization, continue to be enslaved as they are used by the fighters in the group for gratification. The young are sold off to become the fighters’ wives, while forced conversion is also another factor to deal with. They are keen on spreading their propaganda through different means, and the use of social media platforms has been their greatest resource. They call upon the easily susceptible to join in the fight by creating false ideologies on the fact that they are fighting a religious war, but the beheadings of westerners and other opposing factions is a clear indicator that Islamic State has surpassed the mark of brutality, if ever there was one. Al-Qaeda even distanced itself from the group as their intolerance for even their Muslim brothers and sisters grew, which creates a difficult scenario for the terror cells that saw al-Qaeda as the biggest jihadist movement that ever existed (Crooke 1). The beheading of sympathizers for their role in trying to aid some of the people in Syria and Iraq has led to worldwide criticism, which has led to retaliation from different states and nations. The beheading of the Jordanian pilot even led to the execution of the group’s members, and the killing of American journalists led to airstrikes in Syria and the vow that there will be no relenting on the part of the different administrations on their desire to extinguish the Islamic State’s self rule (Kirkpatrick 1). When the organization decided to become a worldwide caliphate, the Muslim organizations present in the world and their leaders saw this as a means of domination, which may not have been the idea behind the invasion and control of Islamic states. The group is keen on establishing its rule on the conquered territory, which is different from what other groups want/desire, for example; the al-Nusra Front, which was created by the Islamic State. In their quest for world domination, once the group attacks and conquers a region, they impose their laws immediately. The sectarian attacks lead to the imposing of sharia law in towns in Syria, and as some Syrian refugees claim, the group is filled with foreign occupants. This is unlike any other group that may be home-based or built by people from the same region. Their aim is to control all Muslims all over the world, which has created a ripple in the groups that exist. Islamic State (IS) recruits and has leaders from different parts of the world, where even Chechen jihadists have pledged allegiance to the group (Zavadski 1). This is while still trying to recruit members from Saudi Arabia and Jordan where they have sympathizers due to state subjugation. Statement of Significance The kind of radical schemes that the world has come to witness from the Islamic State may just be the beginning of their intentions to get a foothold in major areas around the world. Different nations and countries are now harnessing their military might to try and thwart the efforts of the group’s recruitment exercise, which makes young and able men join the IS fight for ‘liberation’. According to different reports, the aim of the group is mainly to establish an Islamic state, which would be led by one leader, and that all devout Muslims should be loyal to him. The caliphate (the Islamic state) and the caliph (the leader) proclaim that all states that were given power and command by western powers during the world war become null and void, once the caliphate’s authority and army has come to the regions in question (Thompson and Shubert 1). From the above, it is clear that the Islamic rule is vital to the organization as this looks like the sole purpose behind the attacks on fellow Muslims. Another thing worth noting is the fact that their current leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has led the organization to believe that his lineage can be traced back to the prophet Muhammad, which makes him the sole Khilafah (Caliph) (Tran and weaver 1). However, these claims have been refuted by Muslim leaders. This is probably what has led to the great divide. The fact that one individual at the head of a terrorist organization can claim that they are a direct descendant of the Prophet may not be the best claim. It is also important to note that the presence of the Islamic State is as a result of a rather radical interpretation of the Holy Quran, where all those that do not agree with its ideologies and beliefs are labeled apostates and/or infidels. This understanding is crucial because it gives the whole world insight into the reason behind the claims the group is making about the world and its ideologies. It is the interpretation of Muhammad’s war that they use to describe their war on the world, and their flag is a true testament to what they believe. The black flag and its white symbol are testament to the flag Muhammad used to wage war, which says that; “There is no God but Allah”. This interpretation creates the base for their beliefs that may have different and significant religious, political, and social ramifications (Bonner 47). The idea is that Islamic State is the one that will bring back the old ways of Islam, and get rid of the corruption brought on by the advancement of time and technology. Furthermore, the group believes that for there to be a Holy War (Jihad), only the pure can wage such a war. This means that from the head (Khilafah), there needs to be a pure line to ensure that even when war goes to non-Islamic states, there is no question as to the purity of the groups fighting. This is what has led to the difference between ideologies and actions between the jihadist groups that have existed before the coming of the Islamic State. It is vital to note that under the IS, the world has come to witness some of the worst cases of terror, especially when it comes to the beheading of people to send messages (Kirkpatrick 1). Theological clerics and other jihadist movements have chastised these actions, claiming them to be deviant and out of the ordinary. Research Question The question as to whether the Western style liberal democracy may be the right solution for the Islamic State and its insurgency, or whether the politics of the region may have had something to do with its development and growth is something that must be discussed. Downplaying the impact this group has worldwide would be a particularly unintelligent idea. Liberal democracy does not work with groups that shed blood for the sake of making a point about the spread of immorality and decadence, according to their beliefs. Furthermore, it is also clear from the recent trends on government overthrows that the development, growth, and rise of the Islamic State may not be recent. It is as a result of long years of feeling repressed and subjugated by the people meant to serve them (Cockburn 37). Certain sections of the world go as far as claiming that the Islamic State is not a terrorist organization, rather; Islamic State is a pseudo-state, which can boast of its own infrastructure, an army of at least 30,000, controls communication, and even funds itself. The fact that this group is capable of creating a schooling system that promotes its ideologies sets this group apart, far from the rest that have come before it, for example; al-Qaeda (Holmes 1). For this simple, but yet not so straight-forward reason, the normal strategies of counter-insurgency or counter-terrorism may not work on the Islamic State. It has become particularly difficult to contain the movement of the group even as its main aim is to move toward different states and cause chaos by establishing its rule. The evolution of the Islamic State was as a result of the invasion of the US in Iraq in 2003. Unlike their once considered allies, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State was just one of the Sunni groups fighting American forces, and trying to stir up a civil war. Their radicalism and extremism paved the way for their presence in Syria once the civil war had become large enough for them to capitalize and seize their opportunity in Syria’s cities and towns (Erlich 1). The sectarian strife in Iraq made it possible for the group to grow in terms of influential members, especially after the withdrawal of American forces and the promotion of pro-Shiite agendas instigated by the Iraqi prime minister. The fact that the Western liberal democracy may be failing the very freedom it was meant to safeguard among the Iraqis is an indicator that this is not the way to deal with the growing ‘cancer’ that is the Islamic State (IS). After the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, most of the high ranking military members or officials joined the Islamic State in a bid to bring back the days where they enjoyed the power, freedom, and security they enjoyed prior to Saddam Hussein’s fall (Sly 1). This may be the reason why taking an approach that is liberal while facing a group that feels they are waging a war against the whole world is practically impossible, because in such an instance, only one side is bound to win, and that side is the one that takes no prisoners. Hypothesis The only thing about the above problem is that there is no clear approach to curtail the progress of the Islamic State. It is not clear whether a laid back, liberal approach by the West would be the way to go, or a reconciliation approach that forces all aggrieved parties to come together to focus on the bigger picture. However, as both may be impractical, the only approach would be to take the defensive approach. The going back of American soldiers into the areas after a request by the Iraq army may aid in reducing the progress of the Islamic State in some of the major towns and cities. This may act as a boost even as the administrative powers in the region are keen on training and bringing in forces that might aid in the resistance of the Islamic State (Thompson and Shubert 1). So long as the West is incapable of solving some of the long-standing animosities, for example; the Israel-Arab enmity, the process of curtailing the Islamic State may be difficult (Cole 53). Even as this happens, the Islamic State boasts of having over 1,000 new members who come from all over trying to join the war against foreign powers, which are deemed secular and worldly (Cockburn 1). Tunisia, China, and even Australia are just some of the regions mentioned as having attracted young people who want to join the Islamic State by Western intelligence. It may be a unrealistic view to assume that the Western world will always take control of the problems experienced in other regions, but since this is a problem that may have been created by Western powers, according to the IS, then they should be available to aid the Iraqi forces. The scheme by the Islamic State makes it one of the toughest groups the world has ever come across. Its extensive reach makes it a force to reckon with, which is particularly dangerous as technology advances, and the globalization of the world becomes easier with the touch of a button. The creation and control of territory may bring forth diverse consequences, and the implementation of a worldwide Islamic state may have dire ramifications. The Islamic State seeks to eradicate the political borders that were created during the 20th century by the western powers, hence; rule some of the Islamic regions that are present under one rule, the Sunni Islamic State (Bonner 62). However, before this happens, a lot may transpire, but one thing that is evident from the latest on the Islamic State, death and destruction may be at the top of the list. The premise that they want total control of everything and everyone that is meant to serve them is one thing that may present challenges to the world organizations, for example; the United Nations, and even the Western allied forces, which the Islamic State does not recognize. By giving the Iraqi forces aid, it may be possible to limit the autonomy the group has at this moment, especially when it comes to their resources and assets or funds. This may just be a step in the hurdle of limiting the extent of the group’s reach. It may also provide insight into the plans of the group, and how they aim to achieve their goals (Andrew 26). Research Data and Methodology Data from different organizational and governmental websites has given this research insight into the progress of the Islamic State, and how their plans for the future are laid out. According to one source, the capture of states or regions has been described, making it possible for the group to understand what needs to be done to ensure the collapse of any resistance. From these sources, it is evident that the Islamic State has plans that require meticulous precision to ensure their success. The main source of certain information comes from defectors of the Islamic State group, making it a rather slow process. However, it is through these information leaks that the group’s triumphant march has been blocked (Cockburn 1). These sources amount to the research’s primary sources. Newspaper and journal articles provide a basic understanding of the forces behind the IS, and how destructive the group may be. Findings indicate that the group is responsible for crimes against humanity on a large scale. Ethnic cleansing is just an example of what the group does to people, for example; the Yazidis, Armenian Christians, and even Shia Muslims have had to face the IS at some point. The main aim is to instill fear among the people in areas where the group has taken over control (Crooke 1). Different statistics indicate that the group has killed hundreds of prisoners of war, over 1,000 civilians have been murdered at the hands of this group, with soldiers numbering in thousands have perished and others ‘lost’ as a result of this group. The United Nations Human Rights Council is responsible for such statistics as it sends teams to Syria to assess the damage done by the Islamic State. These reports and statistics account for the largest part of this research. Qualitative techniques were used to help understand the feelings towards the group and all its actions. For Muslims and the faith of Islam, it is shocking and repulsive to see what is happening in the name of Islam, because the faith does not condone the actions carried out by the group. However, it is a mystery as the group also claims that they are following the teachings of their prophet Muhammad. By conducting this research, trying to come to terms with the fact that lives are being lost on a regular basis is particularly difficult. The truth is, once the West decided to invade and make camp in the Middle East, the rise of different organizations became much easier (Erlich 53). The politics that some of the western nations played in the Middle East led to the emergence of some of the most infamous terrorist organization, that is; the al-Qaeda, and now, the Islamic State. From some of the statistics given with regards to the role of the Islamic State in relation to their jihadist counterparts, IS has been described as a force that may not be easily extinguished. For this reason, the United Nations Security Council and other multinational and governmental organizations find it more difficult to deal with the spread of ISIS or IS across the Middle East and even the world. Their short-term promise is for a life where even the young find a sense of self and community. This attracts the young, adventurous, and power hungry people into the group (Kirkpatrick 1). Sympathizing with a group that kills and imprisons women and children is not one that should be glorified, rather; should be destroyed without the chance of another coming up to take its place. Aim of the Research The purpose behind this research is to determine the aims of the Islamic State, and find out how they plan to do it, despite the opposition they receive. From the above, it is clear that they do not care whether they receive the recognition they demand from the Muslim community or not. To them, it is a matter of their power, control, and legitimacy over the Muslim world, and also the introduction of an Islamic state that would adhere to the rules and regulations of the prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, the religious fervor that most of the people in Islamic State group show may just be a façade for what they are truly looking for, and that is; power, sense of self, and gratification, which the group offers to all who wish it. The fact that the group does not need any funding from sympathizers or supporters for their group activities indicates that their actions are somewhat questionable. The group’s main purpose is to bring the faith of Islam to the whole world and have all Muslims identify the new rule under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the caliph. However, the fact that they loot and plunder for their daily upkeep simply suggests they behave like any regular cartel or gang that existed in the past or are currently present in the world. The religious mask they put on for the world to think they are fighting a religious war is only meant to mask their true intentions. This can be seen especially with the high ranking officials who are part of the group and they used to be part of Saddam Hussein’s regime (Sly 1). They are only part of the group because of its success, and since they were once considered Baathist allies, there sense of fanaticism may be lower than those true to the cause. This may cause a rift between the old and the new, hence; force different organizations to exploit this weakness. The Islamic State may be a particularly difficult group to extinguish, but it is possible to reduce the influence they have by pointing out their weaknesses, especially by showing their religious faults. This may prove challenging to the group, especially to the legitimacy of their claims to create a caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the head of all Muslims. Works Cited Andrew, T. W. “Understanding the Strengths and Vulnerabilities of ISIS.” Parameters 44.3 (2014): 12-30. Bonner, M. Jihad in Islamic History. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014. Print. Cockburn, Patrick. “War with ISIS: Islamic Militants Have Army of 200,000, Claims Senior Kurdish Leader.” The Independent 16 Nov. 2014. Print. Cockburn, Patrick. The Rise of Islamic State. New York: LeftWord Press, 2015. Print. Cole, J. The New Arabs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2014. Print. Crooke, Alastair. “You Can’t Understand ISIS If You Don’t Understand Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia.” The Huffington Post 5 Sept. 2014. Print. Cruickshank, P., Robertson, N., Lister, T and Karadsheh, Jomana. “ISIS Comes to Libya.” CNN 18 Nov. 2014. Print. Erlich, R. Inside Syria. New York: Prometheus Books, 2014. Print. Holmes, Oliver. “Al-Qaeda Breaks Link with Syrian Militant Group ISIL.” Reuters 3 Feb. 2014. Print. Kirkpatrick, David D. “ISIS’ Harsh Brand of Islam is Rooted in Austere Saudi Creed.” The New York Times 24 Sept. 2014. Sly, Liz. “The Hidden Hand Behind the Islamic State Militants? Saddam Hussein’s.” The Washington Post 4 Apr. 2015. Print. Thompson, Nick and Shubert Attika. “The Anatomy of ISIS: How the ‘Islamic State’ is Run, from Oil to Beheadings.” CNN 18 Sept. 2014. Tran, Mark and Matthew Weaver. “ISIS Announces Islamic Caliphate in Area Straddling Iraq and Syria.” The Guardian 30 June 2014. Zavadski, Katie. “ISIS Now Has a Network of Military Affiliates in 11 Countries Around the World.” New York 23 Nov. 2014. Print. Read More