Differences Between Al-Qaeda And ISIS

In the United States the concern with terrorism plays a substantial role in the minds of most Americans, or at least it should. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, the US was introduced to the terrorist group al-Qaeda. For the past thirteen years, the US has been able to fight and constrain al-Qaeda forces. Now, with the recent uprising of the Islamic State terrorist group, ISIS, many have drawn similarities to the disreputable terrorist group, al-Qaeda, as the two share many of the same aspects, but one should not associate the two as the same entity. For a simple difference in philosophy and tactics could be what separates ISIS from al-Qaeda and ultimately leads to their success, not only in the Middle East, but also in the West, including the United

While al-Qaeda focuses on singular dramatic attacks such as 9/11, ISIS operates with a more military viewpoint, taking over entire cities with tanks and military personnel (AbuKhalil). There are a few key differences between al-Qaeda and ISIS that have allowed ISIS to establish itself as a prominent terrorist organization, one of these being capital (Washington). Unlike al-Qaeda, which is funded primarily upon donations, ISIS gains income from the selling of oil, and a lot of it. Throughout Syria and Iraq, ISIS produces about eighty thousand barrels of oil per day, bringing in two million dollars on a daily basis (Sprusansky 19). With this, along with the millions of dollars brought in through hostage ransoms, the newly established army is well financed (Washington). With this amount of wealth, ISIS is able to pay its militants four hundred dollars a month. This may not seem like much, but ISIS is the highest paid militia ever established (Sprusansky 19). Another distinction between the terrorist groups is the fact that al-Qaeda is a group focused solely on “seeking true believers”; whereas, ISIS’s intentions are to run countries and regulate laws and policies throughout the world (AbuKhalil). According to Phyllis Bennis, a colleague at the Institute for Policy Studies, unlike al-Qaeda, “(ISIS) wants to rule now”. On the other hand, al-Qaeda sees this as a more long-term goal, but hasn’t taken any viable steps toward achieving this objective (Sprusansky 19). Moreover, al-Qaeda has generally revolved around a single leader, Osama Bin Laden, unlike ISIS, which operates under a number of collaborative leaders (AbuKhalil). It also happens to be that most of al-Qaeda’s current leaders must stay in hiding from US drone and military strikes. ISIS has been able to advance rapidly from al-Qaeda into its own state with a judiciary system, civil administration and elaborate financial operations