In the process IS has morphed into a political entity never before seen—a terrorist nation, complete with its own army, currency and passports—committed to a revolutionary strategy of creating a new Islamic caliphate in the historic lands of the Muslim Arab Empires of the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. This new caliphate, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indian subcontinent, is but a first step toward its declared strategy of a worldwide conquest that will ultimately lead to the Islamization of the globe.
 
It has amassed billions of dollars in assets, and what appears, at least on paper, to be a well-armed, formidable army. In the process, not only has it plunged both Syria and Iraq into civil war, but has made them the epicenter of a broader Sunni-Shia rivalry that threatens to plunge the Muslim world into a global conflict. Its unspeakable brutality, its genocidal policies, and its murderous record are unmatched by any regime since Pol Pot or Nazi Germany. Its rise has upended the traditional politics of the Middle East, creating tensions between long standing allies while making reluctant, if not surreptitious, allies of long standing rivals like the United States and Iran.
 
This collection of essays, most of which appeared in print during the winter of 2015, look at the origins of the Islamic State, its evolution from the jihadist group Tawhid and Jihad to, first, al-Qaeda in Iraq, then Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) followed by Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and finally Islamic State (IS). We will also look at its strategy and tactics during the Syrian and then the Iraqi civil war, and the implications of its rise on the contemporary Middle East.
 
This is not a book in the conventional sense as much as an ongoing “work in progress.” It is too early to write the definitive history of the Islamic State. There is little information available beyond what has been reported in the public media. Most intelligence agencies are still protecting their sources, both to maintain their relevancy, and also their safety. Interviews of individuals who have direct knowledge of events is often times impossible and, even when it is feasible, often times poses risks to both the interviewee and their interviewer. Moreover, the situation is sufficiently fluid and complex, that any “book” will quickly lose its relevancy. Instead it’s my intention to keep updating this work as the situation in the Middle East develops and as new facts come to life. A separate chapter on the ideology of jihadism and Islamic State will be added at a later date.
 
“Comprehensive, encyclopedic, insightful, strategic … a fascinating presentation that combines a mastery of Middle East history with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary international politics.” – Alisha K Hamel, LTC USARMY Executive Director, Historical Outreach Foundation

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