1 The Islamic State of Iraq and SyriaThe Rise and Goals of ISIS
2 Where did ISIS come from?The terrorist organization began in when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi creates Al Qaeda in Iraq, or AQI The group formed after Al Qaeda supporters fled Afghanistan and settled in a remote corner in Iraq after 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq AQI rebranded itself to ISIS - The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - when it merged with the Syrian rebel group Jabhat al- Nusra in 2013
3 After the Obama Administration withdrew troops and U. SAfter the Obama Administration withdrew troops and U.S. state officials in Iraq, Prime Minister Maliki created an oppressive regime targeting Sunnis This created the perfect climate for ISIS to gain popularity, take advantage of the weak government by waging war and establishing a stronghold for their caliphate In northern Iraq, ISIS -- joined by Sunni insurgents, former Ba’athists and disbanded members of the Iraqi army -- quickly captured key cities: Mosul, Fallujah and Ramadi ISIS and the War in Iraq
4 ISIS, Money and Land After its initial victories in Iraq, ISIS grew fast, capturing territories in Iraq and Syria These territories include oil fields ISIS's strategy for revenue includes oil production and smuggling, taxes, ransoms from kidnappings, selling stolen artifacts, extortion and controlling crops. At the height of its power, ISIS was estimated to have made $3 million a day from their oil fields ISIS has been pushed back on its fronts, losing 12% of its land in 2016 alone, and a lot of its oil fields
5 Fast Facts about ISIS ISIS puts governing structures in place to rule the territories it conquers. Implements Sharia Law, rooted in eighth century Islam, to establish a society that mirrors the region's ancient past. ISIS uses modern tools like social media to promote reactionary politics, religious fundamentalism and promote lone wolf attacks. Fighters are destroying holy sites and valuable antiquities even as their leaders propagate a return to the early days of Islam. In 2014, ISIS controlled more than 34,000 square miles in Syria and Iraq, from the Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad. At the end of 2016, ISIS territory had shrunk to about 23,320 square miles
6 What is the goal of ISIS? ISIS makes no secret of its ultimate ambition: A global caliphate secured through a global war. To that end it speaks of "remaining and expanding" its existing hold over much of Iraq and Syria. It aims to replace existing, man-made borders, to overcome what it sees as the Shiite "crescent" that has emerged across the Middle East, to take its war -- Islam's war -- to Europe and America, and ultimately to lead Muslims toward an apocalyptic battle against the "disbelievers."
7 What is a caliphate? A caliphate is an Islamic state of the Muslim faithful. It is NOT like a country like Germany or a state like Oregon, because it is not bound by international law or interactions with other nations. It doesn’t necessarily even have borders. After the Prophet Muhammad died in 632, Muslims formed the first caliphate to regulate and make official the prophet’s teachings, led by a caliph.
8 ISIS calls for a CaliphateISIS seeks to recreate a medieval-style caliphate or Islamic State. Their wish is to erase all borders from the Mediterranean to the Gulf. ISIS deems Shi'ite Muslims to be heretics (one who turns away from an accepted belief or doctrine : nonconformist) deserving death. By returning to the old ways and declaring a caliphate, ISIS is presenting itself as indisputable (unable to be challenged) because it has the authority and legitimacy that comes from it being an Islamic state.
9 The call to Muslims to come to the caliphate is very boldThe call to Muslims to come to the caliphate is very bold. They’re saying, “You need to come to your state. This is not Iraq or Syria; it’s a caliphate now and the place for all Muslims.” "In terms of legitimacy- unless you're someone who's ready to join a terrorist group at this point, for the vast majority of Muslims there is no legitimacy with this group," - John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University.
10 The Fight Against ISIS A variety of military powers are engaged against ISIS -- the United States, France, Russia, the United Kingdom -- along with several Arab nations and the Kurds, who are fighting them in northern Iraq and Syria. In October 2015, the United States struck ISIS 5,473 times, compared with 1,574 strikes by other countries in the coalition, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
11 In case you didn’t get all that...
12 As of February 2017, ISIS has conducted or inspired 143 attacks in 29 countries that have killed 2,043 people.
13 November 13th 2015 Terror attacks in Paris killed at least 130 people and wounded hundreds. The attackers, armed with assault rifles and explosives, targeted six locations across the city. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. 2015 Paris Terror Attacks - CNN.com
14 “In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate (may Allah strengthen and support it) set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the cross in Europe — Paris. This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah's sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him), and His allies. They did so in spite of His enemies. Thus, they were truthful with Allah — we consider them so — and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the crusaders in their very own homeland. And so eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. These targets included the Stade de France stadium during a soccer match — between the teams of Germany and France, both of which are crusader nations — attended by the imbecile of France [Francois Hollande]. The targets included the Bataclan theatre for exhibitions, where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice. There were also simultaneous attacks on other targets in the tenth, eleventh, and eighteenth districts, and elsewhere. Paris was thereby shaken beneath the crusaders' feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than two hundred crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace, and favor belong to Allah”. Paris attacks- their statement claiming responsibility
15 What do the Crusades have to do with this?Armies of Christians from Western Europe responded to Pope Urban II’s plea to go to war against Muslim forces in the Holy Land [Jerusalem]. After the First Crusade achieved its goal with the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, the invading Christians set up several Latin Christian states, even as Muslims in the region vowed to wage holy war (jihad) to regain control over the region. When ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, they made direct reference to the Christian Crusades and the desire to rebuild a Caliphate. The ultimate goal of this extremist terrorist group is to establish an Islamic State as far reaching and established as the historic Ottoman Empire.
16 For the Islamic State, the term “Crusade” is instrumental in describing the West and its actions.References to crusades and crusaders can be found repeatedly and frequently in statements, propaganda publications, and videos released by the group, as well as references to “Rome” and such crusade icons. In their rhetoric, the Crusades invoke a defensive war of Islam against an invader from the West, and crusaders are those come to kill Muslims and rob them of their land and autonomy.
17 According to ISIS, the world today is at war, and there are only two sides.As their propaganda magazine Dabiq explains, referencing the former U.S. president, “Bush spoke the truth when he said, ‘Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.’ I.e. either you are with the crusade or you are with Islam.” (Dabiq) Much as the historic leaders during the original Crusades, they use attack by the West as a rallying point to unite all Muslims for a great religious war. The cultural memories they intend to call up are of uniting in Jihad against those infidels who would take Islamic lands and attack Islamic peoples, and of repulsing them as the Muslim forces did against Crusaders.
18 “We will conquer you, Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah”The repeated labelling of western coalition forces (especially the US) as crusaders and referring to them as “Rome” is not a mere label but a declaration of intent. ISIS’s propaganda piece, Dabiq, makes it clear: “We will conquer you Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah” (Dabiq 4). The repeated use of divine will to justify conflict is clearly reminiscent of the crusades, but ISIS goes further still – it helps to illustrate their apocalyptic vision of the world. The brutality of warfare and willingness to commit murder and even enslave people comes not only from the justification of “doing Allah’s work” but also in the knowledge that they are fighting towards the end of days.
19 Tracking ISIS Affiliated Terrorist Attacks Across the GlobeWith your group, you will… Gather the following information about your assigned terrorist attack Who?, What?, When?, Where?, How? What were the results- short term and long term Using the info you gathered, create a poster with your group. In addition to the facts, include your response to the question: “To what extent does this attack further ISIS goal of creating an Islamic State and eliminating Western influence for the Middle East?” Prepare to present to the class