6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory
ByJimMuir
BBCNews

20June2016 MiddleEast

AbuAnisonlyrealisedsomethingunusualwashappeningwhenheheard
thesoundofexplosionscomingfromtheoldcityonthewesternbankof
theTigrisasitrunsthroughMosul.

"Iphonedsomefriendsoverthere,andtheysaidarmedgroupshadtakenover,
someofthemforeign,someIraqis,"thecomputertechniciansaid."Thegunmen
toldthem,'We'vecometogetridoftheIraqiarmy,andtohelpyou.'"

Thefollowingday,theattackerscrossedtheriverandtooktheotherhalfofthe
city.TheIraqiarmyandpolice,whovastlyoutnumberedtheirassailants,broke
andfled,officersfirst,manyofthesoldiersstrippingofftheiruniformsasthey
joinedafloodofpanickedcivilians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 1/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

VideofootagefromMosulafteritscapturebyIsisshowsmilitantsdrivingthroughthestreets

Itwas10June2014,andIraq'ssecondbiggestcity,withapopulationofaround
twomillion,hadjustfallentothemilitantsofthegroupthencallingitselfIslamic
StateinIraqandalSham/theLevant(IsisorIsil).

Fourdaysearlier,blackbannersstreaming,afewhundredoftheSunnimilitants
hadcrossedthedesertborderinacavalcadefromtheirbasesineasternSyria
andmetlittleresistanceastheymovedtowardstheirbiggestprize.

Richdividendswereimmediate.TheIraqiarmy,rebuilt,trainedandequippedby
theAmericanssincetheUSledinvasionof2003,abandonedlargequantitiesof
armouredvehiclesandadvancedweaponry,eagerlyseizedbythemilitants.
Theyalsoreportedlygrabbedsomethinglike$500mfromtheCentralBank's
Mosulbranch.

HowrichisIS?

Despiteterritoriallosses,ISsurvives,thanksinnosmallparttoitsstatusas"the
bestfundedterroristorganisation"inhistory.Whilemostpeopledecrythe
validityinferredfromthenameofISasa"state",thegroup'sfinancingis
certainlymorereminiscentofastatethanthatoforganisationssuchasal
Qaedathatreliedheavilyondonationstofundtheiroperations.

IslamicState:Thestruggletostayrich

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 2/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

"Atthebeginning,theybehavedwell,"saidAbuAnis."Theytookdownallthe
barricadesthearmyhadputupbetweenquarters.Peoplelikedthat.Ontheir
checkpointstheywerefriendlyandhelpful'Anythingyouneed,we'reherefor
you.'"

TheMosulhoneymoonwastolastafewweeks.Butjustdowntheroad,terrible
thingswerealreadyhappening.

AstheIraqiarmycollapsedthroughoutthenorth,themilitantsmovedswiftly
downtheTigrisrivervalley.Townsandvillagesfelllikeskittles.Withinaday
theyhadcapturedthetownofBaijianditshugeoilrefinery,andmovedon
swiftlytoseizeSaddamHussein'soldhometown,Tikrit,aSunnihotbed.

JustoutsideTikritisabigmilitarybase,takenoverbytheAmericansin2003
andrenamedCampSpeicherafterthefirstUScasualtyinthe1991"Desert
Storm"GulfwaragainstIraq,apilotcalledScottSpeicher,shotdownoveral
Anbarprovinceinthewest.

BodiesbeingexhumedatCampSpeicher,2015

CampSpeicher,bynowfullofIraqimilitaryrecruits,wassurroundedbytheIsis
militantsandsurrendered.Thethousandsofcaptivesweresorted,theShia
wereweededout,bound,andtruckedawaytobesystematicallyshotdeadin
preparedtrenches.Around1,700arebelievedtohavebeenmassacredincold
blood.Themassgravesarestillbeingexhumed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 3/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Farfromtryingtocoveruptheatrocity,Isisrevelledinit,postingontheinternet
videosandpicturesshowingtheShiaprisonersbeingtakenawayandshotby
theblackcladmilitants.

Intermsofexultantcrueltyandbrutality,worsewasnotlongincoming.

Afterapauseofjusttwomonths,Isisnowrebrandedas"IslamicState"(IS)
eruptedagain,takingoverlargeareasofnorthernIraqcontrolledbytheKurds.

ThatincludedthetownofSinjar,mainlypopulatedbytheYazidis,anancient
religiousminorityregardedbyISasheretics.

YazidiwomeninGermanyprotestagainstISattacksontheircommunityinnorthernIraq,
2014

HundredsofYazidimenwhofailedtoescapeweresimplykilled.Womenand
childrenwereseparatedandtakenawayaswarbooty,tobesoldandbartered
aschattels,andusedassexslaves.Thousandsarestillmissing,enduringthat
fate.

Deliberatelyshocking,bloodthirstyexhibitionismreachedaclimaxtowardsthe
endofthesamemonth,August2014.

ISissuedavideoshowingitsnotorious,Londonaccentedandnowlate
executionerMohammedEmwazi(sardonicallynicknamed"JihadiJohn"by
formercaptives)gruesomelybeheadingAmericanjournalistJamesFoley.

Inthefollowingweeks,moreAmericanandBritishjournalistsandaidworkers
StevenSotloff,DavidHaines,AlanHenning,andPeterKassig(whohad
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 4/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

convertedtoIslamandchangedhisnametoAbdulRahman)appearedbeing
slaughteredinsimilar,slicklyproducedvideos,repletewithpropaganda
statementsanddirewarnings.

MurderedWesternhostages:(Fromtopleftclockwise)StevenSotloff,DavidHaines,James
Foley,AlanHenning,AbdulRahman(Peter)Kassig

Inthespaceofafewmonths,IShadblasteditswayfromobscurityontothe
centreoftheworldstage.Almostovernight,itbecameahouseholdword.

Sevenandahalfthousandmiles(12,000km)away,thenAustralianPrime
MinisterTonyAbbottsummedupthebreathtakingnoveltyofthehorror.Itwas,
hesaid"medievalbarbarism,perpetratedandspreadwiththemostmodernof
technology".

IShadarrived,andtheworldwastakingnotice.Butthemeninblackdidnot
appearoutoftheblue.Theyhadbeenalongtimecoming.

Thetheologyofmurder

TheideologicalorreligiousrootsofISandlikemindedgroupsgodeepinto
history,almosttothebeginningofIslamitselfinthe7thCenturyAD.

LikeChristianitysixcenturiesbeforeit,andJudaismsomeeightcenturies
beforethat,Islamwasbornintotheharsh,tribalworldoftheMiddleEast.

"Theoriginaltexts,theOldTestamentandtheKoran,reflectedprimitivetribal
JewishandArabsocieties,andthecodestheysetforthweresevere,"writesthe
historianandauthorWilliamPolk.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 5/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

"Theyaimed,intheOldTestament,atpreservingandenhancingtribalcohesion
andpowerand,intheKoran,atdestroyingthevestigesofpaganbeliefand
practice.NeitherearlyJudaismnorIslamalloweddeviation.Bothwere
authoritariantheocracies."

Ashistorymovedon,Islamspreadoveravastregion,encounteringand
adjustingtonumerousothersocieties,faithsandcultures.Inevitablyinpractice
itmutatedindifferentways,oftenbecomingmorepragmaticandindulgent,
oftengivensecondplacetothedemandsofpowerandpoliticsandtemporal
rulers.

ForhardlineMuslimtraditionaliststhisamountedtodeviationism,andfromearly
on,therewasaclashofideasinwhichthosearguingforastrictreturntothe
"purity"oftheearlydaysofIslamoftenpaidaprice.

TheeminentscholarAhmadibnHanbal(780855),whofoundedoneofthe
mainschoolsofSunniIslamicjurisprudence,wasjailedandonceflogged
unconsciousinadisputewiththeAbbasidcaliphinBaghdad.Nearlyfive
centurieslater,anothersupremetheologianofthesamestrictorthodoxschool,
IbnTaymiyya,diedinprisoninDamascus.

Thesetwomenareseenasthespiritualforefathersoflaterthinkersand
movementswhichbecameknownas"salafist",advocatingareturntotheways
ofthefirstMuslimancestors,thesalafalsalih(righteousancestors).

Theyinspiredalaterfigurewhosethinkingandwritingsweretohaveahuge
andcontinuingimpactontheregionandonthesalafistmovement,oneformof
which,Wahhabism,tookhisname.

HowsocalledIslamicStatestartedIn3minutes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 6/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

MuhammadibnAbdalWahhabwasbornin1703inasmallvillageintheNejd
regioninthemiddleoftheArabianpeninsula.

AdevoutIslamicscholar,heespousedanddevelopedthemostpuritanicaland
strictversionofwhathesawastheoriginalfaith,andsoughttospreaditby
enteringpactswiththeholdersofpoliticalandmilitarypower.

Inanearlyforayinthatdirection,hisfirstactionwastodestroythetombofZayd
ibnalKhattab,oneoftheCompanionsoftheProphetMuhammad,onthe
groundsthatbytheausteredoctrineofsalafisttheology,thevenerationof
tombsconstitutesshirk,thereveringofsomethingorsomeoneotherthanAllah.

Butitwasin1744thatAbdalWahhabmadehiscrucialalliancewiththelocal
ruler,MuhammadibnSaud.ItwasapactwherebyWahhabismprovidedthe
spiritualorideologicaldimensionforSaudipoliticalandmilitaryexpansion,to
thebenefitofboth.

Passingthroughseveralmutations,thatdualalliancetookovermostofthe
peninsulaandhasenduredtothisday,withtheHouseofSaudrulingin
sometimesuneasyconcertwithanultraconservativeWahhabireligious
establishment.

TheentrenchmentofWahhabisalafisminSaudiArabiaandthebillionsof
petrodollarstowhichitgainedaccessprovidedoneofthewellspringsfor
jihadistmilitancyintheregioninmoderntimes.Jihadmeansstruggleonthe
pathofAllah,whichcanmeanmanykindsofpersonalstruggle,butmoreoften
istakentomeanwagingholywar.

Butthemanmostwidelycredited,orblamed,forbringingsalafismintothe20th
CenturywastheEgyptianthinkerSayyidQutb.Heprovidedadirectbridgefrom
thethoughtandheritageofAbdalWahhabandhispredecessorstoanew
generationofjihadistmilitants,leadinguptoalQaedaandallthatwastofollow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 7/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

SayyidQutb,"thesourceofalljihadistthought"

BorninasmallvillageinUpperEgyptin1906,SayyidQutbfoundhimselfat
oddswiththewayIslamwasbeingtaughtandmanagedaroundhim.Farfrom
convertinghimtothewaysoftheWest,atwoyearstudyperiodintheUSinthe
late1940slefthimdisgustedatwhathejudgedunbridledgodlessmaterialism
anddebauchery,andhisfundamentalistIslamicoutlookwashonedharder.

BackinEgypt,hedevelopedtheviewthattheWestwasimposingitscontrol
directlyorindirectlyovertheregioninthewakeoftheOttomanEmpire's
collapseafterWorldWarOne,withthecollaborationoflocalrulerswhomight
claimtobeMuslims,butwhohadinfactdeviatedsofarfromtherightpaththat
theyshouldnolongerbeconsideredsuch.

ForQutb,offensivejihadagainstboththeWestanditslocalagentswastheonly
wayfortheMuslimworldtoredeemitself.Inessence,thiswasakindoftakfir
brandinganotherMuslimanapostateorkafir(infidel),makingitjustifiedand
evenobligatoryandmeritorioustokillhim.

Althoughhewasatheoristandintellectualratherthananactivejihadist,Qutb
wasjudgeddangerouslysubversivebytheEgyptianauthorities.Hewashanged
in1966onchargesofinvolvementinaMuslimBrotherhoodplottoassassinate
thenationalistPresident,GamalAbdelNasser.

Qutbwasbeforehistime,buthisideaslivedoninthe24bookshewrote,which
havebeenreadbytensofmillions,andinthepersonalcontacthehadwiththe
circlesofpeoplelikeAymanalZawahiri,anotherEgyptianwhoisthecurrental
Qaedaleader.

AnotherintimateofthealQaedafounderOsamaBinLadensaid:"Qutbwasthe
onewhomostaffectedourgeneration."Hehasalsobeendescribedas"the
sourceofalljihadistthought",and"thephilosopheroftheIslamicrevolution".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 8/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

9/11:TheattackerswereinfluencedbyQutb'swritings

Morethan35yearsafterhewashanged,theofficialcommissionofinquiryinto
alQaeda's9/11attackontheTwinTowersin2001concluded:"BinLaden
sharesQutb'sstarkview,permittinghimandhisfollowerstorationaliseeven
unprovokedmassmurderasrighteousdefenceofanembattledfaith."

Andhisinfluencelingersontoday.SumminguptherootsofISandits
predecessors,theIraqiexpertonIslamistmovementsHishamalHashemisaid:
"Theyarefoundedontwothings:atakfirifaithbasedonthewritingsof
MuhammadibnAbdalWahhab,andasmethodology,thewayofSayyidQutb."

Thetheologyofmilitantjihadismwasinplace.Buttoflourish,itneededtwo
thingsabattlefield,andstrategiststoshapethebattle.

Afghanistanwastoprovidetheopportunityforboth.

RiseofalQaeda

TheSovietinvasionin1979,andthe10yearsofoccupationthatfollowed,
providedamagnetforwouldbejihadistsfromaroundtheArabworld.Some
35,000ofthemflockedtoAfghanistanduringthatperiod,tojointhejihadand
helpthemainlyIslamistAfghanmujahideenguerrillasturnthecountryinto
Russia'sVietnam.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 9/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

SovietforcesinAfghanistan,1980

Thereislittleevidencethatthe"AfghanArabs",astheybecameknown,played
apivotalcombatroleindrivingtheSovietsout.Buttheymadeamajor
contributioninsettingupsupportnetworksinPakistan,channellingfundsfrom
SaudiArabiaandotherdonors,andfundingschoolsandmilitanttrainingcamps.
Itwasafantasticopportunityfornetworkingandforgingenduringrelationships
aswellastastingjihadfirsthand.

Ironically,theyfoundthemselvesonthesameteamastheAmericans.The
CIA'sOperationCyclonechannelledhundredsofmillionsofdollarsthrough
PakistantomilitantAfghanmujahedeenleaderssuchasGolbuddinHekmatyar,
whoassociatedcloselywiththeArabjihadists.

ItwasinAfghanistanthatvirtuallyallthemajorfiguresinthenewjihadistworld
cuttheirteeth.TheyhelpedshapeeventsthereintheaftermathoftheSoviet
withdrawalin1989,aperiodthatsawtheemergenceofalQaedaasavehicle
forawiderglobaljihad,andAfghanistanprovidedabaseforit.

BythetimetheTalibantookoverin1996,theywerevirtuallyinpartnershipwith
OsamaBinLadenandhismen,anditwasfromtherethatalQaedalaunched
itsfateful9/11attackin2001.

TheformativeAfghanexperienceprovidedboththecombathardenedsalafist
jihadistleadersandthestrategistswhoweretoplayaninstrumentalroleinthe
emergenceoftheISoftoday.

MostsignificantwastheJordanianjihadistAbuMusabalZarqawi,whomore
thananybodyelseendedupbeingthedirectparentofISinalmosteveryway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 10/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

AbuMusabalZarqawi

Ahighschooldropoutwhoseprisoncareerbeganwithasentencefordrugand
sexualoffences,Zarqawifoundreligionafterbeingsenttoclassesatamosque
intheJordaniancapital,Amman.HearrivedinPakistantojoinjihadin
AfghanistanjustintimetoseetheSovietswithdrawin1989,butstayedonto
workwithjihadists.

AfterastintbackinJordanwherehereceiveda15yearjailsentenceon
terroristchargesbutwaslaterreleasedinageneralamnesty,Zarqawifinally
metBinLadenandAymanalZawahiriin1999.Byallaccountsthetwoal
Qaedaleadersdidnottaketohim.Theyfoundhimbrashandheadstrong,and
theydidnotlikethemanytattoosfromhispreviouslifethathehadnotbeen
abletoerase.

Buthewascharismaticanddynamic,andalthoughhedidnotjoinalQaeda,
theyeventuallyputhiminchargeofatrainingcampinHerat,western
Afghanistan.Itwasherethatheworkedwithanideologuewhoseradical
writingsbecamethescripturesgoverningsubsequentsalafistbloodletting:Abu
AbdullahalMuhajir.

"Thebrutalityofbeheadingisintended,evendelightfultoGodandHisProphet,"
wroteMuhajirinhisbookTheTheologyofJihad,moregenerallyreferredtoas
theTheologyofBloodshed.Hiswritingsprovidedreligiouscoverforthemost
brutalexcesses,andalsoforthekillingofShiaasinfidels,andtheirSunni
collaboratorsasapostates.

TheotherbookthathasbeenseenasthevirtualmanualeventheMeinKampf
forISanditsforebearsisTheManagementofSavagery,byAbuBakrNaji,
whichappearedontheinternetin2004.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 11/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

TheManagementofSavagery,avirtualmanualforjihadists

"WeneedtomassacreandtodojustashasbeendonetoBanuQurayza,so
wemustadoptaruthlesspolicyinwhichhostagesarebrutallyandgraphically
murderedunlessourdemandsaremet,"Najiwrote.Hewasreferringtoa
JewishtribeinseventhcenturyArabiawhichreportedlymetthesamefateat
thehandsofearlyMuslimsastheYazidisofSinjardidnearly14centurieslater:
themenwereslaughtered,thewomenandchildrenenslaved.

Naji'ssanctioningofexemplarybrutalitywaspartofamuchwiderstrategyto
preparethewayforanIslamiccaliphate.Basedpartlyonthelessonsof
Afghanistan,hisbookisadetailedblueprintforprovokingtheWestinto
interventionswhichwouldfurtherrallytheMuslimstojihad,leadingtothe
ultimatecollapseoftheenemy.

ThescenarioisnotsofancifulifyouconsiderthattheSovietUnionwentto
piecesbarelytwoyearsafteritswithdrawalfromAfghanistan.

NajiisreportedtohavebeenkilledinaUSdronestrikeinPakistan'sWaziristan
provincein2008.

Iraqfiasco

Thefalloutfromthe9/11attackschangedthingsradicallyforthejihadistsinlate
2001.TheUSandalliesbombedandinvadedAfghanistan,oustingtheTaliban,
andlaunchingawider"WaronTerror"againstalQaeda.

BinLadenwentunderground,andZarqawiandothersfled.Thedispersing
militants,firedup,badlyneededanotherbattlefieldonwhichtoprovokeand
confronttheirWesternenemies.

Luckwasontheirside.TheAmericansandtheirallieswerenotlongin
providingit.

TheirinvasionofIraqinthespringof2003was,itturnedout,entirelyunjustified
onitsownchosengroundsSaddamHussein'sallegedproductionofweapons
ofmassdestruction,andhissupposedsupportforinternationalterrorists,
neitherofwhichwastrue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 12/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

BombardmentofBaghdadbeforetheUSledinvasionin2003

Bybreakingupeverystateandsecuritystructureandsendingthousandsof
disgruntledSunnisoldiersandofficialshome,theycreatedpreciselythestateof
"savagery",orviolentchaos,thatAbuBakrNajienvisagedforthejihadiststo
thrivein.

IraqwasonthewaytobecomingwhatUSofficialsarenowcallingthe"parent
tumour"oftheISpresenceintheregion.

UnderSaddam'stightlycontrolledBaathPartyregime,theSunnisenjoyedpride
ofplaceoverthemajorityShia,whohavestrongtieswiththeircoreligionists
acrosstheborderinIran.

TheUSledinterventiondisempoweredtheSunnis,creatingmassive
resentmentandprovidingfertilegroundfortheoutsidesalafistjihadiststotake
rootin.

Theywerenotlonginspottingtheirconstituency.AbuMusabZarqawimovedin,
andwithinamatterofmonthswasorganisingdeadly,brutalandprovocative
attacksaimedbothatWesterntargetsandatthemajorityShiacommunity.

Doctrinaldifferencesbetweenthetwosectsgobacktodisputesoverthe
successiontotheProphetMuhammadintheearlydecadesofIslam,butconflict
betweenthemisgenerallybasedoncommunity,historyandsectarianpolitics
ratherthanreligionassuch.

SettinghimselfupwithanewgroupcalledTawhidwaalJihad(Tawhidmeans
declaringtheuniquenessofAllah),Zarqawiimmediatelyforgedapragmatic
operationalalliancewithundergroundcellsoftheremnantsofSaddam's
regime,providingthetwomainintertwinedstrandsoftheSunnibased
insurgency:militantJihadism,andIraqiSunninationalism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 13/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

HisgroupclaimedresponsibilityforseveraldeadlyattacksinAugust2003that
setthepatternformuchofwhatwastocome:asuicidetruckbombexplosionat
theUNheadquartersinBaghdadthatkilledtheenvoySergioVieiradeMello
and20ofhisstaff,andasuicidecarbombblastinNajafwhichkilledthe
influentialShiaayatollahMuhammadBaqiralHakimand80ofhisfollowers.
Thebombersweresalafistjihadists,butlogisticswerereportedlyprovidedby
undergroundBaathists.

Zarqawiwasbehindthedeadly2003bombingoftheUNheadquartersinBaghdad

Thefollowingyear,ZarqawihimselfwasbelievedbytheCIAtobethemasked
killershowninavideobeheadinganAmericanhostage,NicholasBerg,in
revengefortheAbuGhraibprisonabusesofIraqidetaineesbymembersofthe
USmilitary.

AsthebattlewiththeAmericansandthenewShiadominatedIraqigovernment
intensified,ZarqawifinallytooktheoathofloyaltytoBinLaden,andhisgroup
becametheofficialalQaedabranchinIraq.

Buttheywereneverreallyonthesamepage.Zarqawi'sprovocativeattackson
Shiamosquesandmarkets,triggeringsectariancarnage,andhispenchantfor
publicisinggraphicbrutality,wereallinlinewiththeradicalteachingshehad
imbibed.ButtheydrewrebukesfromthealQaedaleadership,concernedatthe
impactonMuslimopinion.

Zarqawipaidlittleheed.Hisstrainofharshradicalismpassedtohissuccessors
afterhewaskilledbyaUSairstrikeinJune2006onhishideoutnorthof
Baghdad.Hewaseasilyidentifiedbythetattooshehadnevermanagedtoget
ridof.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 14/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ThedirectpredecessorofISemergedjustafewmonthslater,withthe
announcementoftheIslamicStateinIraq(ISI)asanumbrellabringingtheal
Qaedabranchtogetherwithotherinsurgentfactions.

Buttoughtimeslayahead.InJanuary2007,theAmericansbegan"surging"
theirowntroopsinIraqfrom132,000toapeakof168,000,adoptingamuch
morehandsonapproachinmentoringtherebuiltIraqiarmy.Atthesametime,
theyenticedSunnitribesinwesternalAnbarprovincetostopsupportingthe
jihadistsandjointheUSledCoalitionIraqigovernmentdrivetoquellthe
insurgency,whichmanydid,onpromisesthattheywouldbegivenjobsand
controlovertheirownsecurity.

BythetimeboththenewISIandalQaedaleaderswerekilledinaUSIraqi
armyraidontheirhideoutinApril2010,theinsurgencywasatitslowestebb,
pushedbackintoremotecornersofSunniIraq.

Theywerebothreplacedbyoneman,aboutwhomverylittlewaspublicly
knownatthetime,andnotmuchmoresince:IbrahimAwadalBadri,better
knownbyhisnomdeguerre,AbuBakralBaghdadi.

Sixeventfulyearslater,hewouldbeproclaimedCaliphIbrahim,Commanderof
theFaithfulandleaderofthenewlydeclared"IslamicState".

Territorialtakeover

Baghdadi'scareerissoshroudedinmistthatthereareveryfewelementsofit
thatcanberegardedasfact.ByallaccountshewasbornnearSamarra,north
ofBaghdad,sotheepithet"Baghdadi"seemstohavebeenadoptedtogivehim
amorenationalimage,while"AbuBakr"evokesthefirstsuccessorto(and
fatherinlawof)ProphetMuhammad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 15/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

LiketheoriginalAbuBakr,BaghdadiisalsoreputedtocomefromtheProphet's
Qurayshclan.That,andhisyouthbornin1971mayhavebeenfactorsinhis
selectionasleader.

Allaccountsofhisearlylifeagreethathewasaquiet,scholarlyanddevout
studentofIslam,takingadoctorateattheIslamicUniversityofBaghdad.Some
evensayhewasshy,andabitofaloner,livingfor10yearsinaroombesidea
smallSunnimosqueinwesternBaghdad.

Theword"charismatic"hasneverbeenattachedtohim.

WhoistheleaderofIS?

29June2014:AbuBakralBaghdadimakesarareappearanceinpublic

Asayouth,BaghdadihadapassionforKoranicrecitationandwasmeticulous
inhisobservanceofreligiouslaw.HisfamilynicknamedhimTheBeliever
becausehewouldchastisehisrelativesforfailingtoliveuptohisstringent
standards.

WhoisIslamicStateleaderAbuBakralBaghdadi?

ButbythetimeoftheUSledinvasionin2003,heappearstohavebecome
involvedwithamilitantSunnigroup,headingitsSharia(Islamiclaw)committee.
Americantroopsdetainedhim,andhewasreportedlyheldinthedetention
centreatCampBuccainthesouthformostof2004.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 16/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

CampBucca(namedafterafiremanwhodiedinthe9/11attacks)housedupto
20,000inmatesandbecameauniversityfromwhichmanyISandothermilitant
leadersgraduated.Itgavethemanunrivalledopportunitytoimbibeandspread
radicalideologiesandsabotageskillsanddevelopimportantcontactsand
networks,allincompletesafety,underthenosesandprotectionoftheir
enemies.

BaghdadiwouldalsocertainlyhavemetinCampBuccamanyoftheexBaathist
militarycommanderswithwhomhewastoformsuchadeadlypartnership.

Thelowprofile,selfeffacingBaghdadirangnoalarmbellswiththeAmericans.
Theyreleasedhim,havingdecidedhewaslowrisk.

CampBucca,2008:A"university"forfutureISleaders

Buthewentontoworkhiswaysteadilyupthroughtheinsurgenthierarchy,
virtuallyunknowntotheIraqipublic.

BythetimeBaghdaditookoverin2010,thecurtainsseemedtobecoming
downforthejihadistsintheIraqifieldof"savagery".

Butanotheronemiraculouslyopenedupforthemacrosstheborderin
neighbouringSyriaatjusttherightmoment.Inthespringof2011,theoutbreak
ofcivilwarthereofferedapromisingnewarenaofstruggleandexpansion.The
majoritySunniswereinrevoltagainsttheoppressiveregimeofBasharal
Assad,dominatedbyhisAlawiteminority,anoffshootofShiaIslam.

Baghdadisenthismenin.ByDecember2011,deadlycarbombswere
explodinginDamascuswhichturnedouttobetheworkofthethenshadowyal
NusraFront.ItannounceditselfasanalQaedaaffiliatethefollowingmonth.It
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 17/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

washeadedbyaSyrianjihadist,AbuMohammedalJulani.Hehadbeensent
byBaghdadi,buthadhisownideas.

JostlingwithahugearrayofcompetingrebelgroupsinSyria,alNusrawon
considerablesupportonthegroundbecauseofitsfearlessandeffectivefighting
skills,andtheflowoffundsandforeignfightersthatsupportfromalQaeda
stimulated.Itwasrelativelymoderateinitssalafistapproach,andcultivated
localrelationships.

AlNusrawasslippingoutofBaghdadi'scontrol,andhedidn'tlikeit.InApril
2013,hetriedtoreinitback,announcingthatalNusrawasunderhiscommand
inanewIslamicStateinIraqandalSham(SyriaortheLevant).Isis,orIsil,was
born.

What'sinaname?

ISflag:Arabictextofthefirstpartof"shahada",thebasicstatementoftheIslamicfaith,
andthesealoftheProphetbelowit

Duringtheshortandturbulentperiodoverwhichithasimposeditselfasamajor
newsbrand,socalledIslamicStatehasconfusedtheworldwithaseriesof
namechangesreflectingitsmutationsandchangingaspirations,leavinga
situationwherethereisnouniversalagreementonhowtorefertoit.

AfteremerginginIraqastheIslamicStateinIraq(ISI),itsspreadtoSyria
promptedtheadditionof"andalSham",awordthatcanmeanDamascus,
Syria,orthewiderLevant

ManychosetousetheeasyacronymIsis,withthe"S"standingeitherfor
SyriaoralSham,thoughtheUSadministrationandothersoptedforIsil
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 18/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

(the"l"standingfor"Levant").Botharestillwidelyusedthoughtechnically
outdated

InArabicthesameacronymcancomeoutasDaash,sometimesspelled
DaeshinEnglishithaspassedintocommonusageamongmanyArabs,
butisdislikedbytheorganisationitself,whichseesitasdisrespectfulof
the"state"althoughDaashhasnomeaninginArabic,italsohasan
unpleasantsoundtoit,whichmaybewhyAmericanandWestern
officialdomoftenuseit

Afterfurtherexpansionofterritoryandambitions,themovementdropped
geographicalspecificityandcalleditselfsimply"theIslamicState"Much
oftheworldwaspoliticallyreluctantsimplytocallitthat,forfearof
implyinglegitimacy

TheBBCandothershavegenerallyoptedforcallingitthe"selfstyled"or
"socalled"IslamicStateonfirstreference,andISthereafter

ButJulanirebelled,andrenewedhisoathofloyaltytoalQaeda'sglobal
leadership,nowunderAymanalZawahirifollowingBinLaden'sdeathin2011.
ZawahiriorderedBaghdaditogobacktobeingjusttheIslamicStateinIraq(ISI)
andleavealNusraasthealQaedaSyriafranchise.

ItwasBaghdadi'sturntoignoreordersfromheadoffice.

Before2013wasout,IsisandalNusrawereateachother'sthroats.Hundreds
werekilledinviciousinternecineclasheswhichendedwithIsisbeingdrivenout
ofmostofnorthwestSyriabyalNusraandalliedSyrianrebelfactions.ButIsis
tookoverRaqqa,aprovincialcapitalinthenortheast,andmadeititscapital.
ManyoftheforeignjihadistswhohadjoinedalNusraalsowentovertoIsis,
seeingitastougherandmoreradical.Inearly2014,alQaedaformally
disownedIsis.

Isishadshakenofftheparentalshackles.Butithadlostalotofground,and
wasbottledup.Oneofitsmainslogans,RemainingandExpanding,risked
becomingempty.Sowherenext?

Fortunesmiledoncemore.BackinIraq,conditionshadagainbecomeripefor
thejihadists.TheAmericanshadgone,sincetheendof2011.Sunniareaswere
againaflameandinrevolt,enragedbythesectarianpoliciesoftheShiaPrime
Minister,NouriMaliki.Sunnisfeltmarginalised,oppressedandangry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 19/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

AnISfighterwavesaflagwhilestandingonacapturedgovernmentfighterjetinRaqqa,
Syria,2015

WhenIsisdecidedtomove,itwaspushingatanopendoor.Infact,ithadnever
reallyleftIraq,justgoneintothewoodwork.AsitsweptthroughSunnitowns,
citiesandvillageswithbewilderingspeedinJune2014,sleepercellsofsalafist
jihadistsandexSaddamistmilitantsandothersympathisersbrokecoverand
joinedthetakeover.

WiththecaptureofMosul,Isismorphedswiftlyintoanewmodeofbeing,likea
rocketjettisoningitscarrier.Nolongerjustashadowyterroristgroup,itwas
suddenlyajihadistarmynotonlythreateningtheIraqistate,butchallengingthe
entireworld.

Thechangewassignalledon29Junebytheproclamationofthe"Islamic
State",replacingallpreviousincarnations,andtheestablishmentofthe
"caliphate".Afewdayslater,thenewlyanointedCaliphIbrahim,akaAbuBakr
alBaghdadi,madeasurpriseappearanceinMosulinthepulpitofthehistoric
GrandMosqueofNouralDinalZangi,heavilyladenwithantiCrusader
associations.Hecalledontheworld'sMuslimstorallybehindhim.

Bydeclaringacaliphateandadoptingthegeneric"IslamicState"title,the
organisationwasclearlysettingitssightsfarbeyondSyriaandIraq.Itwasgoing
global.

AnnouncingacaliphatehashugesignificanceandresonancewithinIslam.
Whileitremainstheideal,BinLadenandotheralQaedaleadershadalways
shiedawayfromit,forfearoffailure.NowBaghdadiwastrumpingtheparent
organisation,settingISupindirectcompetitionwithitfortheleadershipof
globaljihadism.

Acaliphate(khilafa)istheruleorreinofacaliph(khalifa),awordwhichsimply
meansasuccessorprimarilyoftheProphetMuhammad.Underthefirstfour
caliphswhofollowedafterhediedin632,theIslamicCaliphateburstoutof
ArabiaandextendedthroughmoderndayIrantotheeast,intoLibyatothe
west,andtotheCaucasusinthenorth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 20/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

TheUmayyadcaliphatewhichfollowed,basedinDamascus,tookoveralmost
allofthelandsthatISwouldliketocontrol,includingSpain.TheBaghdad
basedAbbasidcaliphatetookoverin750andsawafloweringofscienceand
culture,butfoundithardtoholditalltogether,andBaghdadwassackedbythe
Mongolsin1258.

Emergingfromthat,theOttomanEmpire,basedinConstantinople(Istanbul),
stretchedalmosttoViennaatitspeak,andwasalsoacaliphate,thoughthe
distinctionwithempirewasoftenblurred.Thecaliphatewasfinallyabolishedby
Ataturkin1924.

SowhenBaghdadiwasdeclaredCaliphoftheIslamicState,itwasanactof
extraordinaryambition.HewasclaimingnolessthanthemantleoftheProphet,
andofhisfollowerswhocarriedIslamintovastnewrealmsofconquestand
expansion.

FormostIslamicscholarsandauthorities,nottomentionArabandMuslim
leaders,suchclaimsfromthechiefofoneviolentextremistfactionhadno
legitimacyatall,andtherewasnogreatrushtoembracethenewcaliphate.But
themillennialechoesitevokeddidstrikeachordwithsomeIslamicromantics
andwithsomelikemindedradicalgroupsabroad.

Fourmonthsaftertheproclamation,agroupofmilitantsinLibyabecamethe
firsttojoinupbypledgingallegiancetoBaghdadi,followedamonthlaterbythe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 21/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

AnsarBeitalMaqdisjihadistfactioninEgypt'sSinai.IS'stentaclesspread
deeperintoAfricainMarch2015whenBokoHaraminNigeriatooktheoathof
loyalty.Withinayear,IShadbranchesoraffiliatesin11countries,thoughitheld
territoryinonlyfive,includingIraqandSyria.

ItwasinthosetwocorecountriesthatBaghdadiandhisfollowersstarted
implementingtheirstateprojectontheground,applyingtheirownharshvision
ofIslamicrule.

Totheoutsideworld,deprivedofdirectaccesstotheareascontrolledbyIS,one
ofthemostobviousandshockingaspectsofthiswastheirsystematic
destructionofancientculturalandarchaeologicalheritagesitesandartefacts.

EuropeanSpaceImaging,DigitalGlobe
August2015
September2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 22/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

SatelliteimagesshowPalmyra'soncemajesticTempleofBelbeforeandafterits
destructionbyIslamicStatemilitants

Someoftheregion'sbestknownandmostvisitedsitesweredevastated,
includingthemagnificenttemplesofBelandBaalshaminatPalmyrainSyria,
andtheAssyriancitiesofHatraandNimrudinIraq.

Itwasn'tjustfamousarchaeologicalsitesthatcameunderattack.Christian
churchesandancientmonasteries,Shiamosquesandshrines,andanything
depictingfiguresofanysortweredestroyed,andembellishmentsremovedeven
fromSunnimosques.BarelyamonthaftertakingoverMosul,ISdemolition
squadslevelledthe13thCenturyshrineoftheImamAwnalDin,whichhad
survivedtheMongolinvasion.

AllofthiswasabsolutelyinlinewithIS'spuritanicalvisionofIslam,underwhich
anypictorialrepresentationorshrineisreveringsomethingotherthanAllah,and
anynonMuslimstructuresaremonumentsofidolatry.EvenSaudikingsand
princestothisdayareburiedwithoutcoffinsinunmarkedgraves.

AvideopostedtoYouTubein2015showeddestructionofsculptedfacesatHatra

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 23/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Bypostingvideosofmanyoftheseactswhichtherestoftheworldsawas
criminalculturalvandalism,ISalsoundoubtedlyintendedtoshock.Inthat
sense,itwastheculturalequivalentofbeheadingaidworkers.

Andtherewasamorepracticalandprofitablesidetotheonslaughtoncultural
heritage.Inhighlyorganisedmanner,IS'sTreasuryDepartmentissuesprinted
permitstolootarchaeologicalsites,andtakesapercentageoftheproceeds.

Thatisjustthetipoftheicebergofacomplexstructureofgovernanceand
controlputinplaceasISgraduallysettledintoitsconquests,penetratinginto
everyaspectofpeople'slivesinexactlythesamewayasSaddamHussein's
intelligenceapparatushaddone.

CaptureddocumentspublishedbyDerSpiegellastyeargivesomeideaof
theroleofexBaathistregimemeninsettingupandrunningISinahighly
structuredandorganisedway,withmuchemphasisonintelligenceandsecurity.

HowisIslamicStaterun?

ResidentsofSunnistrongholdslikeMosulandFallujainIraq,andRaqqain
Syria,foundthatISoperativesalreadyknewalmosteverythingabouteverybody
whentheymovedinandtookoverin2014.

Atcheckpoints,IDcardswerecheckedagainstdatabasesonlaptops,obtained
fromgovernmentrationoremployeeregisters.Formermembersofthesecurity
forceshadtogotospecificmosquesto"repent",handovertheirweaponsand
receiveadischargepaper.

"Atfirst,alltheydidwaschangethepreachersinthemosquestopeoplewith
theirownviews,"saidaMosulresidentwhofledayearlater.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 24/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

"Butthentheybegantocrackdown.Womenwhohadbeenabletogobare
headednowhadtocoverup,firstwiththeheadscarfandthenwiththefullface
veil.Menhavetogrowbeardsandwearshortleggedtrousers.Cigarettes,
hubblebubble,musicandcafeswerebanned,thensatelliteTVandmobile
phones.Moralspolice[hisba]vehicleswouldcruiseround,lookingfor
offenders."

CitizenjournalistsfromRaqqaIsBeingSlaughteredSilently(RBSS)describelifeintheIS
controlledcity

AFallujaresidentrecountedthestoryofataxidriverwhohadpickedupa
middleagedwomannotwearingaheadscarf.TheywerestoppedatanIS
checkpoint,thewomangivenaveilandallowedtogo,whilethedriverwassent
toanIslamiccourt,andsentencedtotwomonths'detentionandtomemorisea
portionoftheKoran.Ifyoufailtomemorise,thesentenceisrepeated.

"Theyhavecourtswithjudges,officials,recordsandfiles,andtherearefixed
penaltiesforeachcrime,it'snotrandom,"saidtheFallujaresident."Adulterers
arestonedtodeath.Thieveshavetheirhandscutoff.Gaysareexecutedby
beingthrownoffhighbuildings.Informersareshotdead,Shiamilitiaprisoners
arebeheaded."

Severedheadsonparkfences:AdiaryoflifeunderIS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 25/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ARaqqaresidentdescribesdailylifeundersocalledIslamicState.

AnactivistbasedinRaqqafromagroupcalledAlSharqiya24hasbeen
keepingadiaryofwhatlifeislikeunderIslamicStategrouprule.

Lifeunder'IslamicState':Diaries

ThereareISdepartmentsthatcarrytheorganisation'sgripintoeverycornerof
life,includingfinance,agriculture,education,transport,health,welfareand
utilities.

SchoolcurriculawereoverhauledinlinewithISprecepts,withhistoryrewritten,
allimagesbeingremovedfromschoolbooksandEnglishtakenoffthemenu.

"Onethingyoucansayisthis,"saidtheMosulresident."Thereisabsolutelyno
corruption,nowasta(knowingtherightpeopleandpullingstrings).Theyare
totallyconvincedtheyareontherighttrack."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 26/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Map,purportedlyproducedbyIS,showinggroup'saspirationaltakeoverofalllands
historicallycontrolledbycaliphatesandOttomanEmpire

OnerecentstorytellsalotaboutISanditsways.

AsIraqisecurityforceswerepressingforwardinareasaroundRamadiearlier
thisyear,civilianswerefleeingthebattleandISfighters,losingtheday,were
tryingtosneakouttoo.

Twowomen,runningfromthecombatzone,approachedapolicecheckpoint.

Astheywerebeingwavedthroughtosafety,oneofthewomensuddenlyturned
tothepolice,pointedattheother,andsaid:"Thisisnotawoman.He'sanIS
emir[commander]."

Thepoliceinvestigated,anditwastrue.Theotherwomanwasaman,whohad
shaved,andputonmakeupandwomen'sclothes.Heturnedouttobetopofthe
listofwantedlocalIScommanders.

"WhenISarrived,hekilledmyhusband,whowasapoliceman,rapedme,and
thentookmeashiswife,"thewomantoldthepolice.

"Iputupwithhimallthistime,waitingtoavengemyhusbandandmyhonour,"
shesaid."Itrickedhimintoshavingandputtingonmakeup,thendenounced
himtothepolice."

WhatislifelikeforwomenunderIS?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 27/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

NourisawomanfromRaqqa,thesocalledIslamicState'scapitalinsideSyria

"Nour"isawomanfromRaqqa,thesocalledIslamicState's(IS)capitalinside
Syria.ShemanagedtoescapethecityandisnowarefugeeinEurope,where
shemetupwiththeBBC.

Thisstoryisbasedonherexperiencesandthoseofhertwosisters,whoarestill
insidetheISheldcity.

Takingontheworld

HavingtakenovervastswathesofterritoryinIraqwiththeirlightningoffensive
inJune2014,themilitantsmighthavebeenexpectedtocalmdownand
consolidatetheirgains.

But,likeasharkthathastokeepmovingorelseitwilldie,ISbarelypaused
beforeinitiatinganewspiralofprovocationandreprisalsthatwaspredictablyto
drawitintoactiveconflictwithalmostallthemajorworldpowers.

Already,theJuneoffensivehadthreatenedtheapproachestoBaghdad,
promptingtheAmericanstostartbringinginhundredsofmilitaryadvisersand
trainerstoseehowtohelpthestrugglingIraqiarmy.

Justtwomonthslater,theattackonKurdishareasinthenorthtriggeredUSair
strikesindefenceoftheKurdistancapital,Irbil,andthentohelpstaveoffthe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 28/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

threatofgenocidetotheYazidis.Fourteenothernationsweretojointheair
campaign.

IraqiKurdishPeshmergafightersheadtotheMosuldam(August,2014)

Tendayslater,ISbeheadedJamesFoleyandtheothersfollowed,inlinewith
thedoctrineofexemplarybrutalityaspunishment,deterrentandprovocation.
Themostshockingwastocomesomemonthslater,withtheburningaliveofthe
downedJordanianpilotMoazalKasasbeh.Shockintended.

TheUSledbombingcampaignwasextendedtoSyriainSeptember2014after
ISbesiegedtheKurdishheldtownofKobaneontheTurkishborder.Coalition
airstrikesturnedthetidethere.ISlosthundredsoffighterskilledatKobaneand
elsewhere.Morerevengewascalledfor.ISturnedabroad.

Fromthedeclarationofthecaliphateuntilearly2016,some90terroristattacks
wereeithercarriedoutorinspiredbyISin21countriesaroundtheglobe,from
CaliforniatoSydney,withanestimated1,400victimskilled.Theattacks
carriedthesamemessageofpunishment,deterrenceandprovocationasthe
hostagebeheadings,whilealsodemonstratingIS'sglobalreach.

Atthesametime,theycarriedthroughthemilitants'doctrineofdistractingthe
enemybysettingfiresindifferentlocationsandmakinghimsquanderresources
onsecurity.ForIS,"theenemy"iseverybodywhodoesnotembraceit.The
worldisdividedintoDawlatalIslam,theStateofIslam,andDawlatalKufr,the
StateofUnbelief.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 29/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ThemostconsequentialoftheseatrocitieswerethedowningofaRussian
airlineroverSinaion31October2015andtheParisattackson13November,
provokingbothRussiaandFrancetointensifyairstrikesonIStargetsinSyria.

ThelonewolfmassacreatagayclubinOrlando,Florida,on12June2016,
whileapparentlyinspiredratherthanorganisedbyIS,wouldundoubtedlyfurther
stiffentheUS'salreadysteelyresolvetofinishtheorganisation.

HadISgonemad?Itseemeddeterminedtotakeonthewholeworld.Itwas
goadingandconfrontingtheAmericans,theRussians,andalonglistofothers.
Byitsowncount,ithadamere40,000fightersatitscommand(otherestimates
goaslowashalfthat).

AmemorialtothevictimsofdownedAirbusA321,atPulkovoAirportinRussia,in
November2015

Coulditreallychallengetheglobalpowersandhopetosurvive?Orcould
PresidentBarackObamafulfilhispledgeto"degradeandultimatelydestroy"
IS?

Finalshowdown

IfthereseemstobesomethingapocalypticaboutIS's"bringiton"defiance,
that'sbecausethereis.

Whentheorganisationfirstbroughtoutitsonlinemagazineamajorshowcase
andrecruitmenttooljustamonthafterthe"caliphate"wasdeclared,itwasnot

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 30/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

bychancethatitwasnamedDabiq.

AsmalltownnorthofAleppoinSyria,Dabiqismentionedinahadith(a
reportedsayingoftheProphetMuhammad)inconnectionwithArmageddon.In
ISmythology,itisthescenewhereacataclysmicshowdownwilltakeplace
betweentheMuslimsandtheinfidels,leadingtotheendofdays.Eachissueof
DabiqbeginswithaquotefromAbuMusabZarqawi:"Thesparkhasbeenlit
hereinIraq,anditsheatwillcontinuetointensifybyAllah'spermissionuntilit
burnsthecrusaderarmiesinDabiq."

DabiqIslamicState'sonlinemagazine

Theprospectoftakingpartinthatfinalgloriousclimax,achievingmartyrdomon
thepathofAllahandanassuredplaceinparadise,isoneofthethoughts
inspiringthoseheedingtheIScalltojihad.

Thatcouldhelpexplainwhytheorganisationseemstoenjoyanendlesssupply
ofrecruitswillingtoblowthemselvestopiecesinsuicideattacks,whichitcalls
"martyrdomseekingoperations"(suicideisforbiddeninIslam).Hundredshave
diedinthisway,andtheyhappenvirtuallydaily.

It'soneoftheelementsthatmakesISaformidablefightingforcethatwillbe
hardtodestroyeveninstrictlymilitaryterms.

TheBaathistlegacyatthecoreofIS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 31/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

FormerIraqiarmyofficershavehelpedorganiseanddirectIS

ISisinmanyrespectsaprojectofformerIraqiPresidentSaddamHussein's
outlawedBaathparty,butnowwithadifferentideology.Formeragentsor
officersofSaddamHussein'sregimedominateitsleadership...Theyrepresenta
battlehardenedandstateeducatedcorethatwouldlikelyendure(astheyhave
donethroughUSoccupationandadecadeofwar)eveniftheorganisation's
middleandlowercadresaredecimated.

IsIslamicStateinvincible?

TheheadofsecurityandintelligencefortheKurdistanRegionalGovernment
(KRG)innorthernIraq,MasrourBarzani,tellsthestoryofafrustratedwouldbe
suicidebomberwhoscreamedathiscaptors:"Iwasjust10minutesawayfrom
beingunitedwiththeProphetMuhammad!"

"Theythinkthey'rewinnersregardlessofwhethertheykillyouortheyget
killed,"saysBarzani."Iftheykillyou,theywinabattle.Iftheygetkilled,theygo
toheaven.Withpeoplelikethis,it'sverydifficulttodeterthemfromcomingat
you.Soreallytheonlywaytodefeatthemistoeliminatethem."

ProbablyforthefirsttimeinmilitaryhistorysincetheJapanesekamikaze
squadronsofWorldWarTwo,suicidebombersareusedbyISnotonlyfor
occasionalterroristspectaculars,butasastandardandcommonbattlefield
tactic.

VirtuallyallISattacksbeginwithoneorseveralsuicidebombersdriving
explosivesriggedcarsortrucksatthetarget,softeningitupforcombatsquads

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 32/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

togoin.Somuchsothatthe"martyrdomseekers"havebeencalledthe
organisation's"airforce",sincetheyserveasimilarpurpose.

Formidablethoughthatis,ISasafightingforceismuchmorethanabunchof
wildeyedfanaticseagertoblowthemselvesup.Forthat,theyhaveSaddam
Husseintothank.

"ThecoreofISareformerSaddameraarmyandintelligenceofficers,
particularlyfromtheRepublicanGuard,"saidaninternationalintelligence
official."Theyareverygoodatmovingtheirpeoplearound,resupplyandsoon,
they'reactuallymuchmoreeffectiveandefficientthantheIraqiarmyare.That's
thehandofformermilitarystaffofficerswhoknowtheirbusiness."

"Theyareveryprofessional,"addsMasrourBarzani."Theyuseartillery,
armouredvehicles,heavymachineryetc,andtheyareusingitverywell.They
haveofficerswhoknowconventionalwarandhowtoplan,howtoattack,howto
defend.Theyreallyareoperatingonthelevelofaveryorganisedconventional
force.Otherwisethey'dbenomorethanaterroristorganisation."

ThepartnershipwiththeexBaathists,goingbacktoZarqawi'searlydaysin
Iraq,isclearlyavitalcomponentinISsuccess.

Butthatdoesnotmeanitsfightersareinvincibleonthebattlefield.TheKurdsin
northeastSyriawerefightingISoffwithnooutsidehelpforayearbefore
anybodynoticed.Andevennow,ISmakeswhatwouldconventionallybeseen
ascostlymistakes.

InDecember2015,theylostseveralhundredfightersinoneabortiveattackeast
ofMosulalone,andprobably2,500altogetherthatmonth.Intotalsome15,000
areestimatedtohavebeenkilledbyCoalitionairstrikessinceAugust2014.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 33/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Buttheyseemtohavelittledifficultymakingupthenumbers.Withapopulation
ofperhaps10millionacquiescentSunnistodrawoninIraqandSyria,most
recruitingisdonelocally.AndifISremainsinplace,therewillsoonbeanew
generationofyoungmilitants.

QuentinSommerville:"Theywitnessedkillingcloseathand"

"Ididn'tjoinoutofconviction,"saysBakrMadloul,a24yearoldbachelorwho
wasarrestedinDecemberathishomeinaSunniquarterinsouthernBaghdad
andaccusedoftakingpartindeadlyIScarbombattacksonmainlyShiaareas,
whichheadmits.

BakrsayshewasworkingasaconstructionforemaninKurdistanwhenIStook
overMosul.HewasdetainedforquestioningbyKurdishsecurity,andmeta
militantinjailwhopersuadedhimtogotoMosul,wherehejoinedupwithIS
andmannedacheckpointuntilitwashitbyaCoalitionairstrike.

HewasthensentbacktohisBaghdadsuburbtohelporganisecarbombings.
TheexplosivespackedvehiclesweresentfromoutsideBaghdad,andhisjob
wastoplacethemwherehewastoldbyhiscontroller,usuallyincrowded
streetsormarkets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 34/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

BakrMadloul(left)picturedduringhistimeasanISoperative

"OnlyoneofthefivecarbombsIhandledwasdrivenbyasuicidebomber,"he
says."Ispoketohim.Hewas22yearsold,anIraqi.Hebelievedhewouldgoto
paradisewhenhedied.It'stheeasiestandquickestwaytoHeaven.They
stronglybelievethis.TheywouldblowthemselvesuptogettoHeaven.There
wereolderonesintheir30sand40s."

"Iaskedmycontrollersmorethanonce,'IsitOKtokillwomenandchildren?'
Theywouldanswer,'They'reallthesame.'Buttome,killingwomenand
children,Ididn'tfeelatallcomfortableaboutthat.Butonceyou'rein,you're
stuck.Ifyoutrytoleave,theycallyouamurtadd,anapostate,andthey'llkill
youoryourfamily."

Bakrknowshewillalmostcertainlyhang.Iaskedhimifhewoulddothesame
thingsoverifhehadhislifeagain.Helaughed.

"Absolutelynot.IwouldgetoutofIraq,awayfromIS,awayfromthesecurity
forces.Itookthispathwithoutrealisingtheconsequences.Thereisnoway
back.Iseethatnow."

BakrMadloulknowshewillprobablybeexecuted
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 35/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ButupinKurdistan,anotherISprisoner,MuhannadIbrahim,hasnosuch
regrets.

A32yearoldfromavillagenearMosulwithawifeandthreechildren,hewasa
constructionworkerforaTurkishcompanywhenIStookoverthecity.Twoof
hisolderbrothershaddiedfightingtheAmericanstherein2004and2006.He
joinedISwithouthesitationandwascommandingasmalldetachmentwhenhe
wascapturedinabattlewiththeKurds.

"WewerebeingoppressedbytheShia,theywerealwaysinsultingand
botheringus,"hesays."Butthat'snotthemainmotivation,religiousconviction
ismoreimportant.Allmyfamilyisreligious,praisebetoAllah.IcametoIS
throughmyfaithandreligiousprinciples."

"IfIhadmytimeoveragain,Iwouldtakethesamepath,thesamechoices.
BecauseIamconvincedbythisthing,Ihavetogototheend.EitherIamkilled,
orAllahwilldecreesomeotherfateforme."

CapturedISfighterMuhannadIbrahimisunrepentant

TamingMosul

DefeatingISmilitarilyislessaboutitsownstrengthsandvulnerabilitiesthanitis
aboutthedeficienciesoftheforcesarrayedagainstit.ISisasstrongasthe
weaknessesofthefailedstateswhosecollapseinto"savagery"hasleftroomfor
ittotakerootandgrow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 36/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

IraqandSyriahavetobetheprimaryfocus,asthecommanderofCoalition
forces,LtGenSeanMacFarland,spelledoutinFebruary2016:

"Thecampaignhasthreeobjectives:one,todestroytheIsilparenttumourin
IraqandSyriabycollapsingitspowercentresinMosulandRaqqatwo,to
combattheemergingmetastasisoftheIsiltumourworldwideandthree,to
protectournationsfromattack."

ItgoeswithoutsayingthatCoalitionairstrikes,deadlyandeffectiveastheyare,
havetheirlimitations.Onlyincoordinationwithcohesive,motivatedground
forcescantheterritorytakenbyISberegained.Andthat'sthecrippling
problem,inbothcountries.

AKurdishfighterpassesISgraffitiinthetownofSinjar

TheKurdsinthenorthofbothIraqandSyriahavemadeconsiderableprogress
inpushingISbackfromareastheyregardastheirs,withthehelpofCoalitionair
strikes.Buttheyareneithercapableofgoingalltheway,norshouldthey:in
bothcountries,theywouldstirupacutecommunalsensitivitiesintheSunni
ArabareaswhereISisrooted.

ProgovernmentforcesinIraqlargelydislodgedISfromDiyalaprovinceandthe
Tikritareanorthofthecapitalin2015,butthatwasmainlytheworkofIranian
backedShiamilitiaswholeapttothedefenceofBaghdadandthesouthasIS
descendedinJune2014afterthearmycollapsed.

UsingtheminmainlySunniareasisfraughtwithrisk.

Ramadi,theprovincialcapitalofAnbartothewest,wasrecapturedattheendof
2015inanoffensivespearheadedbythegovernment'sUSbuiltCounter
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 37/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

TerrorismService(CTS),withtheShiamilitiaskeptoutofthisSunnistronghold.
Thecitywasleftinruins,itsentirepopulationfled.

February2016:IraqiforcesontheoutskirtsofRamadi

WhenthatevenmoreiconicSunnicitadel,Falluja,becamethefocusofthenext
governmentoffensive,launchedattheendofMay,thelimitationsoftheofficial
stateforcessoonbecameevenmoreapparent.

TheCTSspearheadedtheadvancefromthesouth,butonotherfronts,itwas
primarilytheIranianbackedShiamilitiaswhichwerefightingtheirwayinaround
theothersidesofthecity,backedbyanarrayofgovernmentunitsandsome
antiISSunnitribalelements.

Themilitiaswerenotsupposedtoenterthelimitsofthecityitself,butthey
swiftlytookcontrolofthedeeplySunnisurroundings,amidstallegationsof
abusesagainstcivilianmalesdetainedforvettingasISsuspects.

TheFallujabattledidnotaugurwellforthemuchbiggerchallengeawaitingin
thenorthMosul,somethinglike10timesthesize,andtherealcoreoftheIS
stateenterprise.

TheAmericanswouldclearlyhavelikedMosultoberetakenbytheendof2016,
asalegacyitemforPresidentObama.

ButtheferociousbattleforFallujawouldinevitablytakeatollontheCTS,
whosealreadylimitednumberscouldnotbeeasilyorswiftlyreplenished.The

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 38/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

alternative,toaccordanevenbiggerroletotheShiamilitiasinthisheavily
Sunniarea,couldbeladenwithperilousconsequences.

OverinSyria,ISwasalsounderpressurebymid2016.Somethingofarace
wasdevelopingforthegroup'ssupposedheadquartersatRaqqa.

DespiteobjectionsfromtheirTurkishNatoallies,theUSledCoalitionwas
providingbackingwithairstrikesandadviserstotheSyrianDemocraticForces
(SDF),largelycomposedofseasonedKurdishPopularProtectionUnits(YPG)
fightersleavenedwithsomeSunniArabelements,astheyslowlyerodedIS
controlinnorthernborderareascontrollingtheapproachestoRaqqa.

Atthesametime,SyriangovernmentforcessupportedbyIranianbackedShia
militiasandRussianairpowerwerestartingtothrusteastwardsfromHama
towardsRaqqa.

Whowouldgettherefirst,andwithwhatconsequencesforthefutureshapeof
Syria?

ThecivilwartruceengineeredbytheRussiansandAmericansinFebruaryhad
largelybrokendown,andtheGenevapeacetalkshadstalled,leavingallthe
cardsupintheairinaconflictwhoseoutcomehasalwaysdefiedprediction.

ButevenifISwastoloseallitsterritoryinSyriastilladistantprospectinmid
2016itismuchlessdeeplyembeddedintheSunnipopulationtherethanin
Iraq.DisgruntledSyrianSunnishavemanyothervehiclesforpressingtheir
grievancesagainsttheAssadregime.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 39/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

TheIraqiarmyispreparingforoperationstoretakethecityofMosul

SoitkeepscomingbackagaintoIraq,andspecifically,toMosul.Tentimesthe
sizeofRaqqa.Andthat'snottheonlyreasonforitssignificance.

"MosulisthebeatingheartofIS,"saysaseniorWesternofficialinnorthernIraq.
"ISisessentiallyanIraqicreation.Thetragicrealityisthatatthemoment,itis
themainSunnipoliticalentityinIraq.FromtheWest,it'slookedatasakindof
crazedcult.It'snot.HereinIraqitrepresentsanimportantconstituency.It
representsamassivedissatisfaction,thealienationofawholesectorofthe
population."

"That'snottosaythatthepeopleinMosulareenthusiasticaboutIS,butfor
them,it'sbetterthananythingthatcomesfromBaghdad."

TheAlNooriAlKabeermosqueinMosul

ButifaMosuloffensivedoesgoahead,thefearisthatawronglyconceived
shorttermvictory,ifitisachieved,willturnintolongtermdisaster,giventhe
totallackofnationalreconciliationbetweenSunnisandShiainthewakeofthe
sectariancarnagethatfollowedSaddam'soverthrowin2003.

SunnigrievancesinIraqaresuchthatifISdidnotexist,itwouldhavetobe
invented.WithoutreconciliationandasenseofSunniempowermentand
partnershipinacrediblenationalproject,ISinsomeshapeorformwillalways
bethere,justastheTalibanarenowresurgentinAfghanistandespite
everythingthatwasdonetooustthem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 40/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ButtheIraqiexpertonradicalmovements,HishamalHashemi,believesthatIS
couldbebadlydamagediftheCoalitionsucceedsinoneofitstopprioritytasks
tokillAbuBakralBaghdadi.

Leadershavebeenkilledbefore,andreplacedwithlittleobviouseffectonthe
courseofhistory.ButHashemibelievesBaghdadiisdifferent.

"IS'sfuturedependsonBaghdadi,"hesays."Ifheiskilled,itwillsplitup.One
partwouldstayonhistrackandannounceanewcaliphate.Anotherwouldsplit
offandreturntoalQaeda.Otherswouldturnintogangsfollowingwhoeveris
strongest."

"Thesourceofhisstrengthisthathebroughtaboutanideological
transformation,blendingjihadistideaswithBaathistintelligencesecurity
methods,enablinghimtocreatethisquasistateorganisation."

HashemibelievesonlyBaghdadicanholdittogether.Therehavebeen
numerousfalsereportsofhimbeinghitinairstrikes,butheappearstobe
stubbornlyandelusivelystillalive,notseeninpublicsincethatmosque
appearanceinearlyJuly2014.

TheAmericansareunlikelytorestuntiltheyhavekilledBaghdadi,notleast
becauseoftheirbeliefthathepersonallyrepeatedlyrapedanAmericanNGO
worker,KaylaMueller,andthenhadherkilledinearly2015.

Buteveniftheydogethim,andevenifISdoesbreakup,theSunniproblemin
Iraqwillnotgoaway.

Capitalisingonchaos

IShadinanycasebeenbusyspreadingitsbetsanddevelopingotherterritorial
optionsbeyondthe"parenttumour"ofIraqandSyria.

Libyaprovedthemostpromising.Ithadjustthekindoffailedstateanarchy,the
"savagery",thatleftroomforthejihadiststomovein,forgingallianceswithlocal
militantsanddisgruntledsupportersoftheoverthrownregimeofMuammar
Gaddafi,justastheyhaddoneinIraq.

ISsignalleditsarrivalthereintypicalstyle,issuingapolishedvideoinFebruary
2015showingagroupof21bewilderedEgyptianChristianworkersinorange
jumpsuitsbeingbeheadedonaLibyanbeach,theirbloodminglingwiththe
watersoftheMediterraneanasawarningtothe"crusader"Europeancountries
ontheothersideofthesea.

ThemanwhovoicedthatwarningwasbelievedtobetheISleaderinLibya,an
IraqicalledWissamalZubaydi,alsoknownasAbuNabil.Bycoincidence,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 41/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

ZubaydiwaskilledinaUSairstrikeonthesamedayISstruckinParis,13
November2015.

Animagefromavideo,postedonlinebyLibyanISsupporters,showing"Islamicpolice"in
thecityofSirte

TheUSanditsallieswerepowerlesstohaltISadvancesinLibya.

ThegrouptookoverabigstretchofthecoastaroundthecentralcityofSirte,
whichwastoMuammarGaddafiwhatTikritwastoSaddamHussein.Another
AmericanairstrikeinFebruarykilled(amongnearly50otherpeople)
NoureddineChouchane,reputedlyanISfigureresponsibleforthedeadly
attacksonWesterntouristsinhisnativeTunisia.

Bythesummerof2016,however,themilitantswereunderpressureinLibya
too.MilitiasloyaltotheGovernmentofNationalAccord,whichhadbeenborn
outofUNeffortsinlateMarch,werepressinginonSirte.

ButLibyaremainedadeeplyfragmentedcountry,anditsnewgovernmentfar
frompowerfuloruniversallyaccepted.Therewouldlikelycontinuetobepockets
ofchaosthereforthejihadiststoexploit.

AndtherewasnoshortageofotherpossibilitiesalreadybeckoningYemen,
Afghanistan,Pakistan,Somalia...wherevertherearedysfunctionalstatesand
angryMuslims,thereareopportunitiesforIS,competingstronglywitha
diminishedalQaedaasadominantbrandinthejihadistmarket.

AddingtheextrariskfortheWest,thatthatcompetitioncouldbeanotherspur
forspectacularterroristattackswhichtheyknowarebeingactivelyplotted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 42/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Clearly,IShaslostalotofgroundsinceitreachedthehightideofitsexpansion
in2014anditisunderdailypressurewhereveritexists.

Buttheoutsidepowers,workingwithwhateverlocalforcesonthegroundthey
canmuster,willhavetosustainamonumentaleffortiftheyareeventuallyto
succeedincompletelyuprootingISmilitarily,aprospectstillfarfrom
achievement.

Ifthatweretohappen,ISwouldofcoursemutatebackintotheshadowsasa
sinisterterroristoutfitwithglobalreach,eitherplottingorinspiringspectacular
strikesbothinMiddleEastconflictcountriesandintheWest,somethingthatis
alreadyhappening.

Withnoterritorialbase,itsalreadydiminishedappealandcredibilityasan
idealisedIslamicstatewouldmoreorlessevaporate.

Butothervoidsthatithasfilled,andthefailuresanddysfunctionswhichenabled
IStohappen,wouldremain,becausetheyhavebeenlargelyunaddressed.

Battleforminds

Inthefirst18monthsafterthedeclarationofthe"IslamicState",thenumberof
foreignfightersmakingtheirwaytojoinjihadinSyriaandIraqrosedramatically.
TheNewYorkbasedsecurityconsultancySoufanGroupestimatedthat27,000
foreignjihadistshadmadethetripfrom86countries,morethanhalfofthem
fromtheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica.

Clearly,thecaliphatehadappeal,despiteperhapsinsomecasesbecauseof
itsgraphicallypublicisedbrutality.Atributetoitsextraordinaryskillinusingthe
internetandsocialmediaasapropagandaandgroomingtool.

Tenmonthsaftervowingto"degradeandultimatelydestroy"theorganisation,
PresidentObamaruefullyacknowledgedthatIS"hasbeenparticularlyeffective
atreachingouttoandrecruitingvulnerablepeoplearoundtheworldincluding
hereintheUnitedStates,andtheyaretargetingMuslimcommunitiesaround
theworld".

Andheputhisfingerontherealchallenge,monumentallygreaterthanthe
comparativelysimpletaskofdefeatingISmilitarily:

"Ideologiesarenotdefeatedwithguns,theyaredefeatedbybetterideas,a
moreattractiveandmorecompellingvision,"hesaid.

ThecomplexartofISpropaganda

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 43/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Onarelativelynormalday...therewasatotalof50distinctpiecesof
propaganda.ThephotoreportsandvideosincludeddepictionsofanIS
offensiveinnorthernSyriaandeulogiesforthedeadinSalahuddin...
Overwhelmingly,though,thepropagandistswerepreoccupiedwithacarefully
refinedviewof'normal'life.

Fishingandultraviolence

Theproblemisthatwhendisenchantedpeopleintheregionlookaroundthem
especiallytheyoung,theidealistic,orthehopelessunemployedwhohaveno
futuretheyseescantevidenceof"betterideas"orattractiveandcompelling
visions.

Theyseetheruinsofan"ArabSpring"whichraisedhopesonlytodashthem
cruelly.

Thebrutal,corruptdictatorshipswhichitshookhaveeitherfragmentedinto
chaosandsectarianandtribalupheaval,likeSyriaitself,Libya,Yemenand
(withWesternintervention)Iraq,orthe"deepstates"oftheirformerregimes
cameback,evenmoreharshlyinthecaseofEgypt,moregentlyinthecaseof
Tunisia.

WhilemanyoftheEuropeanjihadistsmayhaveheededthecallforother
reasons,socioeconomicfactorsplayanimportantpartinradicalisingsomeof
theArabjihadists,andwillcontinuetodosounlessaddressed.

WhyISstillattractsrecruitsfromEurope

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 44/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

TareenaShakil,whotookhertoddlersontoSyriatojoinIS,wasjailedafterreturningtothe
UK

Theflowofrecruits,bothfightersandfamilies,leavingtheirhomesinEuropeto
liveundersocalledIslamicStateruleinRaqqainSyriahasslowed
dramatically.

"Itreacheditspeakin201314,whenitwasfareasierforjihadiststocrossthe
822kmlong(510mile)TurkeySyriaborder,whenISpropagandaonsocial
mediawentlargelyunchallenged,andwhenISwasonarollmilitarily,seizing
evermoreterritoryacrossnorthernSyriaandnorthwesternIraq.

"WhileallthreeofthosefactorshavenowchangedtothedetrimentofIS,the
underlyingfactorspropellingyoungBritonsandEuropeanstowardsjoiningthe
grouphavenotgoneaway.Sowhatarethey?

IslamicState:WhatistheattractionforyoungEuropeans?

OneofthebiggestcontingentsisfromTunisia,whereadetailedsurveyinthe
poorestsuburbsofthecapitalTunisshowedclearlythattheradicalisationof
youngpeopletherehadfarlesstodowithextremeIslamicideologyassuch
thanitdidwithunemployment,marginalisationanddisillusionafterarevolution
intowhichtheythrewthemselves,butwhichgavethemnothing,andleftthem
hopeless.

ArareinsightintothetypesofpeoplewhovolunteertojoinIScamewiththe
emergenceinEuropeanmediainMarch2016ofbatchesofwhatarebelieved
tobe"secret"ISfileswithpersonaldetailsofrecruits.

Thedatafrom201314purportedtoidentifymembersfromatleast40
countries.Itincludednames,addresses,phonenumbersandskillsetsa

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 45/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

potentialtreasuretroveforintelligenceagenciestryingtotrackandprosecute
nationalswhohavesignedupwiththegroup.

ISisalsofillingadesertleftbythecollapseofallthepoliticalideologiesthat
havestirredArabidealistsoverthedecades.ManyusedtotraveltotheSoviet
Unionfortrainingandtertiaryeducation,butcommunismisnowseenasa
bustedflush.ArabsocialismandArabnationalism,whichcausedsuch
excitementinthe1950sand1960s,mutatedintobrutal,corrupt"republics"
wheresonsweregroomedtoinheritpowerfromtheirfathers.

Inthisvacuum,IStookupthecauseofpunishingtheWestandotheroutsiders
fortheiractionsintheregionoverthepastcentury:

thecarveupbythecolonialpowers100yearsago,drawingaborder
betweenIraqandSyriawhichIShasnowerased

thecreationofIsraelundertheBritishmandateforPalestine,andits
subsequentunswervingpoliticalandfinancialsupportbytheUS

Western(andindeedRussian)backingforcorruptandtyrannicalArab
regimes

theWesterninvasionanddestructionofIraqontheflimsiestofpretexts,
withthedeathofuncountedthousandsofIraqis

theAbuGhraibandGuantanamoprisonerabusescandals....

TherootsofISalsolieinacrisiswithinIslam.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 46/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

"IsilisnotIslamic,"saidPresidentObama,echoingstatementsbymany
Westernleadersthat"IShasnothingtodowithIslam".

Ithas.

"ItisbasedonIslamictextsthatarereinterpretedaccordingtohowtheyseeit,"
saysAhmadMoussalli,professorofpoliticsattheAmericanUniversityofBeirut.
"Idon'tsaytheyarenotcomingoutofIslamictradition,thatwouldbedenying
facts.Buttheirinterpretationisunusual,literalsometimes,verymuchlikethe
Wahhabis."

HishamalHashemi,theIraqiexpertonradicalgroups,agrees.

"ViolentextremisminISandthesalafistjihadistgroupsisjustified,indeed
blessed,inIslamiclawtextsreliedonbyISandtheextremistgroups.It'sacrisis
ofreligiousdiscourse,notofabarbaricgroup.Breakingupthereligious
discourseandsettingitontherightcourseismoreimportantbyfarthan
suppressingtheextremistgroupsmilitarily."

Becauseancienttextscanbeinterpretedbyextremiststocovertheirworst
outragesdoesnotimplicatetheentirereligion,anymorethanChristianityis
definedbytheInquisition,whereburningatthestakewasastockpenalty.

Extremistideasremaininthedark,forgottencornersofhistoryunlesstheirtime
comes.AndIStimecame,withAfghanistan,Iraq,andeverythingthatfollowed.

"Salafismisspreadingintheworld,inAfghanistan,Pakistan,theArab
countries,"saysProfMoussalli.

HeblamestheSaudisforstiflingtheemergenceofamoderate,democratic
versionofIslam,the"alternativeIslamicdiscourse"tosalafismthatPresident
Obamawouldliketosee.

"AmoderateIslamicnarrativetodayisaMuslimBrotherhoodnarrative,which
hasbeendestroyedbytheGulfstatessupportingthemilitarycoupinEgypt,"
saysProfMoussalli,referringtotheEgyptianmilitary'soustingoftheelected
PresidentMohammedMorsi,aseniorMuslimBrotherhoodfigure,inJuly2013.

"WelostthatopportunitywithEgypt.Egyptcouldhavepavedthewayforreal
changeinthearea.ButSaudiArabiastoodagainstit,inaverymaliciousway,
anddestroyedthepossibilityofchangingtheArabregimesintomore
democraticregimesthatacceptthetransferofpowerpeacefully.Theydon't
wantit."

SaudiArabia'sultraconservativeWahhabireligiousestablishmentandits
constantpropagationhaveraisedambiguityoveritsrelationswithradical
groupsabroad.Enemiesandcriticshaveaccuseditofproducingthevirulent
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 47/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

strainofWahhabismthatinspirestheextremists,andevenofsupportingISand
otherultrasalafistgroups.

ButJamalKhashoggi,aleadingSaudijournalistandwriterwhospenttimein
AfghanistanandknewBinLaden,saysthatsimplyisnottrue

"WeareatwarwithIS,whichseesusascorruptWahhabis."hesays.

"ISisaformofWahhabismthathasbeensuppressedheresincethe1930s.It
resurfacedwiththesiegeoftheGrandMosqueinMeccain1979andspread
hereandthere.ButSaudiArabiadidn'tbackitatall,itsawitasathreat.Soit's
truethatsalafismcanturnradical,justastheUSrightwingproducessome
crazylunatics."

Hundredsofpeoplediedinatwoweeksiegewhenextremistsalafiststookover
theGrandMosque,theholiestplaceinIslam,inprotestatwhattheysawasthe
Kingdom'sdeviationfromthetruepath.

Morerecently,SaudiArabia'ssecurityforcesanditsShiaminorityhaveinfact
beenthetargetofattacksbyIS,andthekingdomhasexecutedcaptured
militants.Ithasanactivederadicalisationprogramme.

SaudiArabia's'creative'approachtoderadicalisation

ButMrKhashoggiagreesthattheSaudismadeahugemistakewhenthey
backedtheoverthrowoftheelectedMuslimBrotherhoodpresidentinEgyptand
thesubsequentcrackdownonthemovement,whichhaspushedpoliticalIslam
intothearmsoftheradicals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 48/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

"TherewerenopicturesofIsis,BinLadenoralQaedainTahrirSquare,"he
says."ItwasanopportunityfordemocracyintheMiddleEast,butwemadea
historicalblunderforwhichweareallpayingnow."

ButtheKingdom'sextremeconservatism,itsdistastefordemocracy,andits
custodianshipoftheshrinesinMeccaandMedinatowhichmillionsofMuslims
makepilgrimageeveryyear,havemadeitoneofthemaintargetsforcallsfor
anunlikelyreformationwithinIslamaspartofthebattletodefeatISandother
extremistgroups.

"WemustacceptthefactthatIslamhasacrisis,"saysaseniorSunnipolitician
inIraq.

"ISisnotafreak.Lookattheroots,thepeople,theaims.Ifyoudon'tdealwith
theroots,thesituationwillbemuchmoredangerous.Theworldhastogetridof
IS,butneedsanewdeal:reformation,inSaudiArabia,Afghanistan,alAzhar
[theancientseatofSunniIslamiclearningandauthorityinCairo]."

"Youcan'tkillalltheMuslims,youneedanIslamicreformation.ButSaudiand
Qatarimoneyisblottingoutthevoicessowecan'tgetanywhere.It'sthecurse
oftheArabworld,toomuchoil,toomuchmoney."

Regionalrivalry

ISisattheheartofyetanotheroftheregion'sburningthemesthestrategic
geopoliticalcontest,thegameofnations,thatistakingplaceasSyriaandIraq
disintegrate.

WhentheUSledcoalitiondestroyedtheIraqistatein2003,itwasbreaking
downthewallthatwascontainingIran,theregion'sShiasuperpower,seenasa
threatbytheSaudisandmostoftheirSunniGulfpartnerssinceitsIslamic
revolutionin1979.

IranhadforyearsbeenbackingantiSaddamIraqiShiafactionsinexile.
Throughthosegroups,theempowermentofthemajorityShiacommunityinIraq

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 49/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

after2003gaveIranunrivalledinfluenceoverIraqipolitics.

ThearrivaloftheISthreatledtoevenmoreIranianpenetration,arming,training
anddirectingtheShiamilitiawhoroseindefenceofBaghdadandtheSouth.

"Ifitweren'tforIran,thedemocraticexperimentinIraqwouldhavefallen,"says
HadialAmeri,leaderoftheIranianbackedBadrOrganisation,oneofthe
biggestShiafightinggroups.

"Obamawassleeping,andhedidn'twakeupuntilISwasatthegatesofErbil.
WhentheywereatthegatesofBaghdad,hedidnothing.WereitnotforIran's
support,ISwouldhavetakenoverthewholeGulf,notjustIraq."

HadialAmeri,leaderoftheBadrOrganisation,oneofthebiggestShiafightinggroups

ForSaudiArabiaanditsallies,IranianpenetrationinIraqthreatenstoestablish,
indeedlargelyhas,aShiacrescent,linkingIran,Iraq,Syriaunderitsminority
Alawiteleadership,andLebanondominatedbytheIraniancreatedShiafaction
Hezbollah.

FromtheoutsetofthewarinSyria,theSaudisandtheirGulfpartners,and
Turkey,backedtheSunnirebelsinthehopethattheoverthrowofAssadwould
establishSunnimajorityrule.

SothenanorthsouthSunniaxisrunningfromTurkeythroughSyriatoJordan
andSaudiArabiawoulddriveastakethroughtheheartoftheShiacrescentand
foiltheIranianproject,astheysawit.

ThatisessentiallywhatISdidin2014whenitmovedbackintoIraq,tookMosul
andvirtuallyallthecountry'sSunniareas,andestablishedaSunnientitywhich
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 50/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

straddledthesuddenlyirrelevantborderwithSyria,blockingoffShiapartsof
IraqfromSyria.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 51/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

IfIShadjuststayedputatthatpointanddugin,whowouldhaveshiftedthem?
HadtheynotgoneontoattacktheKurds,theAmericanswouldnothave
intervened.HadtheynotshotdownaRussianairlinerandattackedParis,the
RussiansandFrenchwouldnothavesteppeduptheirinvolvement.

"Hadtheynotbecomeinternationalterroristsandstayedlocalterrorists,they
couldhaveservedtheoriginalagendaofdividingtheArabeastsotherewould
benoShiacrescent,"saysProfMoussalli.

Wemayneverknowwhytheydidit.Perhapstheirvirulentstrainofsalafismjust
hadtokeepgoing:RemainingandExpanding.

Couldtheynowjustrowbackandsettleintheir"state",stopantagonising
people,andeventuallygainacceptance,justasIranhasafteritsownturbulent
revolutionandinternationalisolation?

Itseemsunlikely,forthesamedrivingreasonsthattheymadethatescalationin
thefirstplace.AndevenifISwantedto,theAmericansalsoseemsetontheir
course,andtheyhaveprovenimplacableintheirpursuitofrevengeforterrorist
outrages.

Butwhatisthealternative?Giventheproblemofassemblingcapableground
forces,cantheAmericansbecomplicitinatakeoverofMosulbyIranianbacked
Shiamilitias,andofRaqqabyRussianandIranianbackedSyrianregime
forcesorothernonSunnigroupsliketheKurds?IstheirhostilitytoISsostrong
thattheywouldwatchtheIraniansconnectuptheirShiacrescent?Andwould
theSaudisandTurksgoalongwiththat?

TherearenoeasyanswerstoanyofthechallengesposedbyISinallthe
strandsofcrisisthatitbringstogether.

That'swhyit'sstillthere.

Credits:
Author:JimMuir

Editor:RaffiBerg

Production:BenMilne,SusannahStevens

Graphics:HenryClarkePrice
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 52/53
6/26/2017 IslamicStategroup:Thefullstory

Video:MohamedMadi

Allimagesaresubjecttocopyright

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/worldmiddleeast35695648 53/53