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Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), is responsible for the horrific beheadings of two American hostages. What is Islamic State, and what are its objectives? (BBC)

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Discussion Questions

• The BBC article says that Islamic State is as dangerous as al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for 9/11. What are similarities between the two groups?
  • Both Islamic State and al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations. This means they both use violence to pursue their political agendas.
  • Both groups define themselves as Islamic fundamentalist organizations. This means they have a strict, conservative interpretation of the Muslim faith, and support shariah—religious law based on the Quran and other Islamic sources.
  • Both groups have their roots in the Middle East. In fact, Islamic State originated as a branch of al-Qaeda (al-Qaeda in Iraq).
  • Both groups are international. Islamic State has attracted a startling number of foreign recruits, including fighters from the United States, Europe, throughout the Arab World, and the Stans. al-Qaeda is an international organization with a global terrorist vision and also has recruits from all over the world.

• What are some key differences between Islamic State and al-Qaeda?
  • Goals and objectives. Islamic State is pursing a caliphate. A caliphate is an Islamic nation-state led by a religious leader called a caliph. The proposed caliphate of Islamic State would stretch through Syria and Iraq. Crucially, Islamic State has yet to target any region, including the West, outside its proposed caliphate. Here’s a nice, short opinion piece on why Islamic State’s idea of a modern caliphate is so unusual. al-Qaeda, on the other hand, does not control geographic territory and promotes a worldwide war against states and individuals it perceives as threats to shariah and its own radically conservative interpretation of Islam.
  • Leadership. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is the leader of Islamic State. He recently changed his name to Caliph Ibrahim, to reflect his leadership of the proposed caliphate. (He is still referred to as al-Baghdadi, however.) al-Baghdadi is an Iraqi who grew up with a traditional Islamic education, and is an excellent military leader who has proven himself in battle. al-Qaeda is led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian physician who is regarded as a theologian and not a tactical military commander.
  • Community. Islamic State has a traditional military structure. “They have incredible command and control and they have a sophisticated reporting mechanism from the field that can relay tactics and directives up and down the line,” says one expert. al-Qaeda relies on terrorist “cells” to perform sporadic, targeted operations.

• Former names of Islamic State include “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” and “The Organization of Jihad’s Base in the Country of the Two Rivers.” What do these names tell you about the organization?
  • They are excellent geographic indicators of the group’s proposed caliphate. Take a look at this map to identify the countries and regions of the proposed Islamic State caliphate.
    • The Levant is a region in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran are often included as part of the Levant.
    • The “two rivers”, of course, are the Tigris and the Euphrates.

• The group that eventually became Islamic State evolved after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Do you think founding members of Islamic State are former Baath Party loyalists who lost their positions when Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled?
  • No. Islamic State members are Islamic fundamentalists seeking shariah. Saddam Hussein was a secularist, meaning his government was not a religious one.

• Islamic State has territorial aspirations in Syria. Do you think it is aligned with Syrian rebels fighting the government in Syria’s savage civil war?
  • No. Islamic State has taken advantage of Syria’s civil war (with rebels and government fighting each other) to gain territory.

• The United States and Iran may be put in an unusual, uncomfortable alliance in opposing Islamic State. Why would Iran oppose the caliphate?
  • Iran may be threatened by the possible extension of the proposed caliphate into its northern territory.
  • Iran is a Shi’ite government, while Islamic State is Sunni. This is a critical political division within Islam.
  • The brutal Iran-Iraq War is within living memory of many Iranians.

• Take a look at this excellent map of Syria and Iraq, with territory controlled by Islamic State in grey. Where else do you think Islamic State might have a presence?

  • 

  • Palestinian Territories
  • Lebanon

• How does Islamic State fund itself?
  • donations
  • oil revenue
  • seizures from Iraqi Central Bank
  • looted antiquities

• What is Islamic State buying with those funds?
  • It’s basically funding a state (caliphate), complete with bureaucracy and infrastructure. This includes:
    • weapons—guns, missiles, tanks
    • equipment—medical supplies, electronics
    • food
    • police force
    • construction of public works, including roads and markets
    • maintenance of infrastructure, including dams, legal courts, and schools

• Why is Islamic State executing Western hostages? Read the short “analysis” section for some help.
  • Islamic State is opposing U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, the heartland of the caliphate. “Unable to hit back militarily against America’s jets, Islamic State has responded with a form of information warfare that it knows will horrify most people in the West.”

• Analysts say Islamic State should be approached less as a terrorist organization than a militia. What’s the difference? Why would experts advise this approach? Read this article for some help.
  • Militias are well-organized, well-funded non-professional militaries of a recognized political entity. “This is an army on the move in Iraq and Syria, and they are taking terrain,” says one expert.