[Grem] 12 things to know about what ISIS really wants

[Emoke Greschik]

    World *February 25, 2015*
     12 Things to Know About "What ISIS Really Wants"
  We misunderstand them at our peril
        Zelda Caldwell (13)
<http://www.aleteia.org/en/author/zelda-caldwell>

http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/12-things-to-know-about-what-isis-really-wants-5904800487047168?utm_campaign=save_iraqi_christians_en&utm_source=save_iraqi_christians&utm_medium=campaign&utm_content=save_iraqi_christians-27/02/2015

In his much talked about article
<http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/>,
“What ISIS Really Wants” in the March issue of *The Atlantic*, Graeme Wood
punctures Western fantasies that the Islamic State is made of psychopathic
discontents, or in President Obama’s estimation, al Qaeda’s “JV team.”

Instead, he discovers, they are a formidable force, drawn together by a
coherent faith and ideology. Here are our take-aways from Wood’s 10,000
word article.

According to Wood:

*1. ISIS and al-Qaeda are not one and the same.* ISIS has eclipsed al-Qaeda
and views its leaders as apostates. We have made a mistake in not realizing
the difference between them, particularly in regard to how they interpret
the Koran.

* 2. ISIS advocates strict adherence to the Koran and regards itself as
responsible for fullfiling its apocalyptic prophecies.* Followers are very
knowledgeable about their faith, and punctilious about following the letter
of the law. This includes an obligation to carry out crucifixions and
amputations, and to establish slavery.

*3. The Islamic State sees itself as having established a caliphate.*
Having fulfilled the necessary requirement of possessing territory (after
seizing the area around Mosul, Iraq, ISIS has a territory as big as the
United Kingdom), believers are now obligated to observe all sharia laws. In
theory this includes immigrating to the caliphate.

*4. Members of ISIS believe they have a role to play in the Apocalypse, and
that the action will take place close to home. *They believe it is
prophesied that there will be a great battle against “Rome” in Dabiq,
Syria, that they will go on sack Istanbul and that a final showdown with an
anti-Messiah will occur before Jesus returns at the End of Days.

*5. ISIS is now in “Offensive Jihad.”* Now that it has established a
caliphate, it must expand into non-Muslim territory, and is obligated to do
so at least once a year.  Its tactics – beheadings, crucifixions, and
enslavement of women and children – are meant to terrorize its enemies and
hasten the end of conflict.

*6. The United States has failed to recognize the rift between the Islamic
State and Al Qaeda.*  This resulted in a bizarre and bungled attempt to win
the release of hostage Peter Kassig. The US recruitment of a senior
al-Qaeda operative to intercede with ISIS on Kassig’s behalf ended badly,
with the beheading of Kassig.

*7. Territory is essential to the existence of the Islamic State*. If you
take away their territory, they cease to be a caliphate — a tempting
argument for a foreign intervention.

*8. ISIS wants us to invade.* It would bolster recruitment and radicalize
Muslims worldwide — a strong argument *against* a foreign intervention.

*9. ISIS may become** a victim of its own success. *It’s only a matter of
time before this mass of poor people with high expectations confronts
economic deprivation, discontent, and a reduction in the number of
believers immigrating to the caliphate. This won’t happen any time soon
though.

*10. If al-Qaeda were to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State it would be
catastrophic*. This is why Wood believes the Obama administration’s attempt
to open channels of communication between al-Qaeda and Isis (during hostage
negotations) was so foolhardy.

*11. The majority of Muslims do not support the Islamic State. *Some are
“moderates,” who distrust hardline devotion of any kind and whom Isis
considers apostates. But others oppose Isis on conservative, scriptural
grounds, like certain “Salafis,” who believe they should remove themselves
from conflict with fellow Muslims and concentrate on perfecting their
personal lives.

*12. ISIS‘ faith and confidence that they are carrying out divine will
makes them a formidable opponent.* They are pursuing Armageddon prefaced by
a protracted war, and are unlikely to respond to appeals to their
non-religious “interests."


*Zelda Caldwell *is managing editor of Aleteia's English edition.
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