ISIS audiobook cover - Inside the Army of Terror

ISIS

Inside the Army of Terror

Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan

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ISIS
Origins & Evolution+
Ideology & The Caliphate+
Strategic Growth in Iraq+
Syrian Expansion+
Military & Propaganda Tactics+
Western Failures+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Where did many of ISIS's top brass gain their initial experience and expertise?
  • A. In the Afghan military under the Taliban
  • B. As former advisors in the toppled Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein
  • C. In the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
  • D. As clerics in fundamentalist Saudi Arabian mosques
Question 2 of 8
What is ISIS's ultimate political and geographical goal according to their ideology?
  • A. To establish an independent nation-state strictly within the borders of Iraq and Syria
  • B. To abolish the concept of nation-states entirely and build a global Islamic caliphate
  • C. To conquer the United States and establish sharia law in the West
  • D. To force the United Nations to recognize them as a legitimate political party
Question 3 of 8
What was the primary ideological difference between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?
  • A. Bin Laden wanted to focus on the 'far enemy' (the US), while al-Zarqawi also wanted to target 'near enemies' like Shia Muslims and non-Salafist Sunnis.
  • B. Bin Laden preferred diplomatic negotiations, whereas al-Zarqawi strictly believed in violent jihad.
  • C. Bin Laden wanted to establish a caliphate immediately, while al-Zarqawi wanted to focus purely on isolated terrorist attacks.
  • D. Bin Laden focused on social media recruitment, whereas al-Zarqawi relied on traditional training camps.
Question 4 of 8
How did the US invasion of Iraq and subsequent 'de-Baathification' policies inadvertently help extremist groups?
  • A. They provided extremist groups with advanced American weaponry left behind by retreating forces.
  • B. They pushed disenfranchised, formerly secular Sunni Baathists into the ranks of Salafist and terrorist organizations.
  • C. They created a power vacuum that allowed Iranian forces to directly train ISIS soldiers.
  • D. They forced Shia Muslims to ally with al-Qaeda in order to survive the new political landscape.
Question 5 of 8
How did ISIS strategically utilize American prisons in Iraq during the later years of the war?
  • A. They used them as targets for high-profile bombings to gain media attention.
  • B. They bribed American guards to smuggle weapons into the country.
  • C. Members intentionally got arrested to use the prisons as safe houses and highly effective recruiting grounds.
  • D. They used the prisons to hold their own political hostages and demand ransom from the US government.
Question 6 of 8
How did Syrian President Bashar Assad manipulate the rise of jihadist groups to his advantage during the Arab Spring?
  • A. He openly allied with ISIS to declare war on neighboring Iraq and expand Syrian territory.
  • B. He released jihadists from prison to attack moderate rebels, while simultaneously convincing the US he needed help fighting terrorism.
  • C. He hired al-Qaeda as a private mercenary force to protect his capital from American airstrikes.
  • D. He converted to Salafism to gain the loyalty of ISIS commanders and merge their armies.
Question 7 of 8
Which of the following tactics was crucial to ISIS's success in conquering cities like Mosul and al-Bab?
  • A. Massive aerial bombardment using stolen Iraqi fighter jets.
  • B. Diplomatic treaties with local mayors that were later betrayed.
  • C. Infiltrating rival groups with sleeper cells that struck from within at key moments.
  • D. Purchasing the cities outright using funds generated from the black market drug trade.
Question 8 of 8
According to the text, why did the United States struggle to effectively intervene in the Syrian conflict?
  • A. The US lacked the military funding necessary to deploy troops to the region.
  • B. Helping the Assad regime was a bad choice, but supporting the rebels risked funneling weapons and money to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
  • C. The US government was completely unaware of ISIS's existence until they had already conquered Syria.
  • D. The United Nations strictly forbade any American involvement in Syrian airspace.

ISIS — Full Chapter Overview

ISIS Summary & Overview

ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (2015) charts the rapid rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East, from its early beginnings to its self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Grippingly told, the story of ISIS’s domination over al-Qaeda in Iraq and its slow but ruthless push in Syria also shines light on the failings of the West in dealing with this fanatical yet disciplined jihadi group.

Who Should Listen to ISIS?

  • People interested in international politics and the rise of terrorism
  • Historians or students of Middle Eastern studies
  • Anyone with an interest in examples of religious extremism

About the Author: Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan

Hassan Hassan is an Middle East analyst with a focus on Syria, Iraq and the Gulf States and a columnist for The National in Abu Dhabi. His work has also appeared in the Guardian, Foreign Policy and the New York Times.

Columnist Michael Weiss has written for publications such as Foreign Policy, The Daily Beast and NOW Lebanon. He is a fellow at the Institute of Modern Russia and serves as editor-in-chief of that organization's online news journal, The Interpreter.

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