Islamic State

Islamic State:

The Islamic State was formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  It was also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Islamic State.  It's hard to turn on the news and not hear about the threat of the Islamic State.  

The Islamic State started as a splinter group of another militant group, al Qaeda.   In 2006 the Islamic State became a separate group under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  He transformed a few terror cells on the verge of extinction into what is considered by many to be the most dangerous militant group in the world.

The aim of the group is to create an Islamic "caliphate" or state across Sunni areas of Iraq and Syria.  It ignores international borders and has a presence from  Syria's Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad.   It is known for killing dozens at a time, carrying out executions, crucifixions, and other acts.  It has taken over large areas of northern and western Iraq.  It controls hundreds of square miles.  

The Islamic State rules by Sharia law.  Sharia law covers both religious and non-religious aspects of life.  Boys and girls must be separated at school, women must wear the "niqab"or full veil in public.  Music is banned and the fast is enforced during Ramadan.  Sharia courts often dispense brutal justice.  

The Islamic State is well organized militarily and financially.   After Saddam Hussein's military was disbanded former Iraqi soldiers could not serve the new military and so became fighters for ISIS, according to Middle East expert Fawaz Gerges.  Isis has a trained and experienced  fighting force.   The initial strategy for revenue was through extortion and robbery.  Now it generates resources through large scale attacks aimed at capturing and holding territory.  It will use cash reserves from banks, military equipment seized from military and police bases, and the release of fighters from local jails to bolster military and financial capability.  

The Islamic State tries to capture and channel the resentment of the Sunni's.  In both Syria and Iraq it wins favor through "dawa" - organizing  social welfare programs and even recreational activities for children, distributing food and fuel to the needy, and setting up clinics.   The price it demands is enforcement of the strict Sharia code. 

To be sure the Islamic State is a force to be reckoned with.  As it grows in size and strength it will eventually visit it's extremism and terrorism on the West and particularly the  U.S.  President Barack Obama has declared America's intention is to eradicate this militant group.  America plans expanded air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and more support for moderate rebels opposed  to the Islamic State.  The Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, are being consulted as to whether they would commit their forces to fight the Islamic State.  This is a slippery slope for them as they do not want to alienate their own Sunni populations.  

President Obama has no plans to deploy U.S. combat troops to fight this jihadist militant group.  There is agreement that there is a need for increased training and equipping of the moderate Syrian opposition in order to confront  this extremist group.   The U.S. can't "take the place of Arab partners in securing their region."  I agree with the President.   The militant extremism of elements in the Middle East has been ongoing for hundreds of years.  We cannot nor should we try to end it.  At most we can advise and assist nations in that area to meet these challenges.

What do you think?