Nance Malcolm - Defeating ISIS: who they are, how they fight, what they believe

Copyright 2016 by Malcolm Nance

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Brian Peterson

ISBN: 978-1-5107-1184-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1185-3

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

Dedicated to the men and women of RAID, BRIO and BAT and especially the police dogs Diesel and Akil who gave their lives to save others.

FOREWORD

ISIS is a cult that wants to transform Islam at gunpoint, and to defeat it the world must understand the group on its own terms, according to Malcolm Nance. As an analyst, historian, and counterterrorism expert, Nance explains that ISIS has deep roots, stretching back to the earliest days of Islamic history. Hes absolutely clear, however, that it was a very modern event that allowed ISIS to burst onto center stage and show off its brutality for the world to see.

The invasion of Iraq, he writes, was not just an exhausting failure, unsuccessful in stamping out insurgency and terrorism, it actually created the entire legion of terror and tyranny that we know as the Islamic State.

In his detailed and informed study Nance argues that, in effect, Americas War on Terror created a new breed of vicious terrorists who wear the mask of Islam like actors in a Kabuki theatre while carrying out horrifically un-Islamic acts like posing for selfies during battle, and burning a hostage alive.

But as William Shakespeare scoffed, the Devil can cite scripture for his purpose.

Richard Engel

December 23, 2015

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A collection of notables contributed to this book, including the members of the Terrorist Asymmetric Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideology (TAPSTRI), which was formed in Hudson, New York for the very purpose of observing and creating counter-ideology and violent extremism defeat strategies for the US intelligence community and the greater counterterrorism effort. TAPSTRI terrorism media researcher Chris Sampson is arguably one of the worlds preeminent experts on ISIS and social media. He has not only compiled TAPSTRIs thousands of videos from ISIS and al-Qaeda, but he has also worked tirelessly to take down over a thousand ISIS websites and Twitter feeds. Scriven King is an internationally renowned security professional who provided a great deal of the analysis on ISIS tactics and combat operations. Sergei-Beliveau-Dubois is a French-speaking maritime/combat archaeologist and specialist in cultural crimes and heritage protection, who documented the atrocities of cultural cleansing. RJ is a former US Air Force intelligence operator who provided numerous sources for ISIS combat tactics and intelligence structure. Information related to blood antiquities and strategies to defeat them come from Major Tommy Lavoti, Katie Paul, and Deborah Lehr of the Antiquities Coalition. Other contributors include Hosam, an Egyptian-American patriot who provided much of the day-to-day materials on Egypts fight with the Ansar Beit Maqdis, and Doctor John Bedolla, MD, an Assistant Professor University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and Miguel Bedolla MD, PhD, MPH, who provided valuable research on the ISIS medical system.

Additional thanks go out to the staff and advisory board of the International Spy Museum. They stand as a public monument to all of those who follow in their footsteps of the greats and who silently serve this nation fighting in the shadows.

Skyhorse Publishing editor Jay McCullough made this book possible from beginning to end. Our decade-long friendship started with my first book, Terrorist Recognition Handbook . He is one of the best editors in the business.

Finally, a note of thanks to my wife Maryse, who was the driving force behind this book. While working with her in Iraq as she risked her own life to manage oil security projects. She saw first hand the beginnings of ISIS, and brought clarity and a wifes passion to this book as she helped me focus on how to defeat this group at all costs.

COMMON ISLAMIC TERMS

Here is a convenient reference for the many terms you may encounter when studying this subject. Although these words and phrases may be common in Islamic practice and jurisprudence, it is important to note that adherents of ISIS often distort or overemphasize many of Islams most important tenets or misapply them in extremis ; they are extremists.

Allah: The One True God

Allahu Akbar: God is Greatest, a phrase also known as the takbir

Al-Wala Wal Bara: The ultra-orthodox Salafist practice of swearing to live ones life for God and rejecting all things that are ungodly or un-Islamic; ISIS takes this practice to a literal extreme in all aspects, except weapons, vehicles, and electronic technology

Ansar al-Sunnah: Literally, helpers of the teachings of the Prophet; in practice, the congregation of Islam

Aqeed: Creed; Strength of faith and Belief in the One God

Baya, Bayat (pl): Sworn oath

Dar al-Islam: The house (lands) of Islam; all regions under ISIS control

Dar al-Kuffar: The house (lands) of the unbelievers/Infidels; all regions outside of ISIS control

Dawa/Dawah: Religious invitation; evangelism or working to bring the word of Allah to all

Fardh Ayn: (Arabic) The individual religious obligation or duty of every Muslim that are Charity, Fasting, Prayer, Pilgrimage to Mecca and Witnessing that There is No God But God and Mohammed is His Messenger. Jihadi cultists believe that Jihad and death (Martyrdom) are also obligations which are not specified in Islam.

Fatwa: Religious ruling from an authorized religious body, the Ulema

Fi Sabilillah: In the path of God

Fiqh: Islamic passing of judgement

Forsan al-Khalifa: Knights of the Caliphate; euphemism for ISIS terrorists overseas

Hadiths: Interpretive texts of the Quran written by Islamic scholars

Haramayin: The cities of Mecca and Medina, home of the two Holy Shrines of the Grand Mosque & Kaaba (Mecca) and the Tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (Medina)

Hijab: Literally meaning screen, this can refer to physical coverings used by Muslim women or, more generally, a given standard of modesty

Hijrah: Emigration; the path of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina (Yathrib) to found Islam in 622; Used by ISIS/al-Qaeda to signify abandoning past lives and moving to ISIS controlled territory or mentally departing from family/friends/Muslims to carry out terror attacks without their knowledge

Hud, Hudud (pl): Punishments reserved for perceived crimes against religion, like adultery, stealing, apostasy, and homosexuality