Counterterrorism In The United States

The counterterrorism strategies which are put in place by the regions and countries are lacking data, in my opinion. What appear to be the most comprehensive strategies being put in place are by western countries and those outside of Syria and Iraq. The military forces of Iraq and Syria, the Kurdish ground forces, fight against ISIS daily. In my opinion, the military forces from the region are more reactive than proactive. They are more fighting the spread of ISIS rather than trying to end it. I believe this is an effect that has come from the very fast expansion of ISIS which the region was not, and could not have been, prepared for.

General Information and History

ISIS currently is one of the largest and most deadly terrorist organizations

The group eventually became known in 2004 as Al Qaeda in Iraq, AQI, and finally ISIS in 2013. The group’s founder, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, began his formation of ISIS from his time in prison. The goal, I believe, was not to create an organization but just to get his views out. Al-Zarqawi was able to smuggle propaganda out and gained a large following, including Osama bin Laden. After being released from prison in 1999 bin Laden set up a meeting with al-Zarqawi and was offered to join Al Qaeda. Al-Zarqawi refused the offer, however bin Laden is alleged to have funneled money to Zarqawi for him to set up a training camp in Heret. This is where he began to train his first 2000-3000 militants by October 2001. The group gained prominence due to their role in the Iraqi insurgency during the American occupancy of Iraq. It was also around this time that the group aligned with Al Qaeda to become Al Qaeda in Iraq, or AQI. The group soon began to decline because of public opinion and increased attention from U.S. and Iraqi forces. ISIS did not begin to grow again until their involvement in the Syrian Civil War in 2011 when it continued to grow and gain control over large areas of Syria and Iraq. In 2013 the organization changed its name again to the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant, which is the name we know

ISIS sets up pseudo-government entities in the areas which it controls to maintain infrastructure, generate revenue, and act as officials. The leader, currently, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi oversees and gives orders to two “deputies”, Abu Ali al-Anbari in Syria and Abu Muslim al-Turkmani in Iraq, who oversee twelve “governors”. On the same level as Baghdadi are his personal advisors which also advise oversee the governors and the Shura Council. The Shura Council is involved in military and religious affairs and issues. The council is directly involved with advising Baghdadi and the two governors that are in charge of the Iraq and Syrian pseudo-governments. The twelve governors of Iraq and Syria oversee different cabinets and regions within the controlled areas of the two countries. The organizational structure is vastly complex for a typical terrorist organization. ISIS has practically created its own country and is expanding and conquering