The Rise of Isis

THE RISE OF ISIS

Since the 9/11 terror attacks, many have viewed the al-Qaeda terrorist group as the face of global terror. However, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has shocked the world, and it has become the new face of global terror and fear. From the ashes of al-Qaeda, ISIS has built enough strength to become the dominating terrorist group that it is today. This research paper focuses on and explores this violent terrorist group – a group so vicious, so brutal, and so potent that even al-Qaeda disowned them – given the US’ renewed military involvement in the Middle East, the decision to broadcast ISIS’ violent actions against Westerners, and ISIS’ continued rise of power and popularity. I will look at the major events that shaped the militant group since the 2003 war in Iraq, how its leader – Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – came into power, the group’s relationship with al-Qaeda, why people choose to fight for it, the goals that they express, and the dangers they pose to the United States.
While the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq began in December 2007, the last of the American troops finally left Baghdad four years later, ending almost nine years of war. Iraq’s leaders confidently declared that they were ready to rule the country without assistance from the United States, and the majority of Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shias, responded positively to the removal of troops. Michael Gordon of The New York Times said that both sides considered this withdrawal a victory: Prime Minister Maliki signified that it was a great accomplishment, as Iraq would now stand on its own two feet, and with the pullout, President Obama was able to fulfill his election promise of bringing troops home from the most unpopular war since Vietnam. Obama also talked of a new Iraq, exclaiming, “what we’ve achieved now is an Iraq that is self-governing and inclusive, and that has enormous potential.” Yet, the United States was, in fact, leaving a country that...