One of the serious issues that has not been on the table of discussions is how ISIS manages the areas under its control. All sources refer to an efficient system of distribution of food, water hydrocarbon and other vital resources to Iraqi and Syrian citizens living in the areas under its control. Sources also refer to media campaigns directed at potential recruits in various languages that are light years ahead of other fighting factions in Iraq and Syria. They also refer to an advanced taxation system that is ironically taxing these constituents less than what the previous powers did. Certainly, we cannot view the terrorist group as a bunch of a rag tag army of bandits that are only ruling through unheard of terror tactics. It is definitely much more sophisticated than that. How did an organization that was unheard of just five or six years ago, run by practically a nobody called Abu Bakir Al Baghdadi and now we know his true identity is Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim Al Badry, become so sophisticated and notorious in its means? Who is really playing the strings behind it? Well, things are much more complicated than they seem. First, the Syrian civil war has had a major impact on the rise of ISIS, we all know that and admit that. Many Syrians both in Syria, as well as abroad joined the civil war that was a direct result of the Syrian revolution of 2010. Some of this expertise ended up in the hands of ISIS. In the same token, the Saudi, Qatari, as well as the Turkish government miscalculated support for the mass rebellion that followed the militarization of the revolution ended up serving ISIS. However, for the past 1 year or more, Saudi official support Islamic militants operating in Syria has been dwindling. This is evident not only by words of King Abdullah of Saudi, but also actions taken by Saudi Arabia to criminalize anyone returning from the Syrian conflict. Turkey also has been reluctant to continue its material support to the various Syrian opposition forces, as many of these forces, including ISIS, are now threatening the very fragile security of Turkey that is considered, according to ISISs sick ideology as apostate. ISIS is as well as threatening the situation with the Kurdish Region and the welfare of Turkmen in north of Iraq and Kirkuk. When I was in Turkey during the Summer, I saw campaigns to support the displaced Turkmen populations in the areas occupied by ISIS. These campaigns can be compared even to the Pro Gaza campaigns. Similarly, many reports (including that of the Iraqi government that go back to 2007) refer to the Syrian regimes support for ISIS and its predecessor Al Qaida in Iraq. One of my sources, who is against the regime in Damascus, but by no means supportive of the militarized rebellion insisted that the Syrian regime has by far supported ISIS by a) excluding the areas under the control of ISIS from the bombing campaigns against Aleppo, Idlib and other regions controlled by the SFA and JN. b) until recently, a detachment of the Syrian army was situated just 50 miles away from Al Raqa and neither side seriously attacked each other. In fact, when ISIS was marching on from Syria to Iraq, those insurgents passed by the detachment and not even one shot was fired from both sides. c) there are substantial reports that prove that the Syrian government deals with ISIS on issues of supplying it with fuel and refined oil. d) the easiness that the region of Raqa, with its strategic importance, fell into the hands of ISIS. Raqa is an important border crossing to Turkey, and home to the Assad Damn and power station. There was no reaction from the Syrian government and Syrian army to the fall of Raqa. Now compare that to what happened in Idlib province, Alepo and Hums. e) the Assad regime needed some kind of dividing force, that an gradually destroy the spirit of the rebellion against his regime and poison it to the point of no return. It found this opportunity through JN and ISIS The second major influences that helped ISIS grow were the dividing policies of the previous Iraqi Prime Minister Al Maliki who alienated not only the Sunnis and the Kurds but also a large section of his own constituents. He did not follow the advise of the Americans to share the pie and work with opposition forces to reconcile the differences. This lead to dissatisfaction among a large majority of Iraqis, some of which decided sadly to side with ISIS when ISIS came over. Many of those Iraqis had the technical and administrative skills that added to the ISIS. These were not only military skills, as many who joined were officers of the old Iraqi army, but also engineers, doctors and other skilled people who felt alienated from the actions of Maliki and his security forces. While the alienation is understood, the support for an organization like ISIS should not be condoned. I am sure ISIS would love to have within its ranks. The policies of ISIS were different in the cities, as compared to rural areas which managed to hide the degree of cruelty ISIS poses. It was also in the interest of Maliki to invite ISIS to the towns and villages in rebellion against his one sided rule to poison the rebellion and give it a sectarian, rather than national nature. In many ways I believe Al Maliki and his clique were supportive of the ISIS take over of the triangle. That is why there was no effort to stop them until they reached to the outskirts of Samara. Only then there was a serious attempt that succeeded to stop them. Another issue which is hardly on the table is Israels involvement. I am not the type that puts the blame on Israel every time something wrong happens in the Arab world. I am infact known for trying to avoid inserting Israel whenever such issues take place. However, it is evident now that the main aim of ISIS is to divide the Muslem world even further than the way it is divided now. It is no secret that ISIS does not consider Israel as the enemy nor Israel has increased its alarm after ISIS took over large territories in Iraq and Syria. Israel benefits from the lack of trust among Arab, Turks and Iranians. This gave Israel a super opportunity to confiscate further Palestinian land in the west bank. A land grab that would have been impossible in normal circumstances. The sophistication of operations ISIS has overtaken proves beyond any reasonable doubt foreign intelligence involvement in supporting and training ISIS. the sophistication of arms and propaganda used brings into question ISIS-Mossad links. This brings also into question two other issues: First the American and Western European silence over the radicalized centers preaching hate and intolerance compared to the lack of it when dealing with more tolerant Islamic organizations such as CAIR and the Zeitouna center that was supposed to be built in NY. Why is it ok for certain extremist centers to preach hate, unchecked and websites to operate unchecked while Human Rights organizations were always questioned for their motives? The other question is why was not the undertaker of the Iraqi Army, namely the US occupation army interested in arming the Iraqi army preparing it to face threats such as ISIS and similar terrorist organizations. The Iraqi army was apparently such under prepared that it failed in its duty without a shot being fired. These questions have to be answered before we as Iraqis, Arabs and middle easterners blame each other for the rise of a terrorist organization that has in its ranks a significant number of Europeans, either converts or of Muslim decent who completely broke away from the traditional teachings of Islam.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 18:30:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015