What Is ISIS?

“The acronym ISIS stands for ‘the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (al-Sham).”

— Evan Kohlmann, Evan Kohlmann, msnbc.com

“You may have heard about ISIS referred to as IS, ISIL, or Daesh. All of these acronyms describe the group in question. ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was the name of the group when it captured Mosul in 2014 and became the terrorist juggernaut it is today. ISIL: Islamic State of Iraq and the L…”

— Tewfik Cassis, theweek.com

“The roots of ISIS can be traced in part to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent emergence of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), founded by Jordanian national Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.”

— Evan Kohlmann, msnbc.com

“There is no consensus on how to pronounce ISIS, either. Many people say ‘eye-sis,’ the way most English speakers (notably including Bob Dylan) would pronounce the name of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. When an English word begins with I, followed by a single consonant and another vowel, the long…”

— Patrick J. Lyons, Mona El-Naggar, nytimes.com

“The nature and significance of the threat flows from the fact that ISIS is— all at the same time— a terrorist group, a state, and a revolutionary political movement. We have not faced an adversary like it before.”

— Michael Morell, time.com

“ISIS aims to create an Islamic state called a caliphate across Iraq, Syria and beyond. The group is implementing Sharia Law, rooted in eighth century Islam, to establish a society that mirrors the region's ancient past.”

— CNN, cnn.com

“On the meaning of the ISIS flag: The white banner at the top of the flag reads: There is no god but Allah. Mohammad is the messenger of Allah. This phrase is a declaration of faith used across Islam, and is known as the shahada. Underneath is a white circle emblazoned with black writing reading "Moh…”

— Kashmira Gander, Kashmira Gander, independent.co.uk

“ISIS presents itself to an embattled Sunni minority in Iraq, and an even more persecuted and victimized Sunni majority in Syria, as the sect’s last line of defense against a host of enemies— the ‘infidel’ United States, the ‘apostate’ Gulf Arab states, the ‘Nusayri’ Alawite dictatorship in Syria, th…”

— Michael Weiss, Hassan Hassan, amazon.com

“How did ISIS grow to become so powerful? - Feelings of disenfranchisement - Unlikely bedfellows - Syrian chaos - Iraqi chaos - Racketeering and extortion - Taxation and exploitation - Selling oil”

— Tewfik Cassis, theweek.com

“It was Darwinism. All the guys who were stupid enough to use cell phones in Baghdad kept getting hit, hit, hit, and hit. That was their way of culling the herd, though it had the negative side effect of leaving the smarter and more powerful operatives in place, the ones who were good at internal cou…”

— Derek Harvey, amazon.com

“Possibly the most worrying aspect of ISIS’s operational potential comes from its unprecedented wealth. According to files seized by Iraqi intelligence before the attack on Mosul, ISIS had £515 million in cash and assets. While it appears the seizure of funds from Mosul may have been initially overst…”

— Marc Simms, hscentre.org

“While ISIS is our most violent enemy, they ended up with oil in Iraq and Syria that we should have taken. That oil, along with ransom and extortion, is funding their army. I’ve advocated bombing the hell out of those oil fields to cut off the source of their money. This would barely affect the world…”

— Donald Trump, amazon.com

“I have supported U.S. airstrikes against ISIS and believe they are authorized under current law, and I support targeted U.S. military efforts to protect U.S. citizens. It is my firm belief, however, that the war against ISIS will never be won unless nations in the Middle East step up their military…”

— Bernie Sanders, feelthebern.org

“The attraction of the Islamic State was the state. The ideology lured people in, but the destination was more important: an idyllic Sunni land. When that goes away, I think much of the attraction of I.S. will go with it.’”

— Andrew M. Liepman, nytimes.com

“Today the Islamic State is as much a media conglomerate as a fighting force. According to Documenting the Virtual Caliphate, an October 2015 report by the Quilliam Foundation, the organization releases, on average, 38 new items per day—20-minute videos, full-length documentaries, photo essays, audio…”

— Brendan I. Koerner, wired.com

“Social media platforms are just the tip of the iceberg, however. ISIS' marketing tools run the gamut from popular public platforms to private chat rooms to encrypted messaging systems such as WhatsApp, Kik, Wickr, Zello, and Telegram. At the other end of the spectrum, digital media production houses…”

— Jared Cohen, foreignaffairs.com

“The young Muslims from 'inner-city' areas of Belgium, France, and other European countries joining up with the Islamic State were radical before they were religious. Their revolt from society manifested itself through petty crime and delinquency. Many are essentially part of street gangs. What the I…”

— Alain Grignard, vox.com

“From the official ISIS spokesperson: So whoever says, ‘Allah is my Lord,’ it is incumbent upon him – if he is truthful – to obey Allahwho enjoined fighting, meaning that He made it obligatory upon those who believe in Him, and commanded the performance of jihād for His cause, and promised reward for…”

— Abu Muhammad al-‘Adnani, news.siteintelgroup.com

“Our priority should be how to fight the enemy. In the end, it didn’t matter what kind of terrorist we call bin Laden, it mattered that we killed bin Laden. But we still can’t close our eyes to the fact that there is a distorted and dangerous stream of extremism within the Muslim world that continues…”

— Hillary Clinton, time.com

“ISIS is a terrorist organization, but it isn’t only a terrorist organization. It is also a mafia adept at exploiting decades-old transnational gray markets for oil and arms trafficking. It is a conventional military that mobilizes and deploys foot soldiers with a professional acumen that has impress…”

— Michael Weiss, Hassan Hassan, amazon.com

“Before beheading American journalist Steven Sotloff: I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy toward the Islamic State because of your insistence in continuing your bombings in Muhassan, Albuomar and the Mosul Dam despite our serious warnings. You, Obama, have yet to gai…”

— Anonymous Member of ISIS, metro.co.uk

“Why aren’t Muslims speaking out against these atrocities?’ The answer is: Muslims have been speaking out in the strongest terms, condemning the crimes against humanity committed by ISIS and others in the name of Islam.”

— Elias Mallon, globalresearch.ca

“Many mainstream Muslim organizations have gone so far as to say the Islamic State is, in fact, un-Islamic. It is, of course, reassuring to know that the vast majority of Muslims have zero interest in replacing Hollywood movies with public executions as evening entertainment. But Muslims who call the…”

— Graeme Wood, theatlantic.com

“ISIS does not represent the main Sunni Muslims' ideology. They are involved in acts of terror and violence, they are involved in destructing and demolishing the Muslim shrines. We condemn it.”

— Maulana Shahid Raza, independent.co.uk

“When I interviewed ICSR director Peter Neumann in September 2015, he explained that there were four main reasons he'd found for why ISIS fighters quit: 1. Recruits joined to fight Bashar al-Assad, but ended up largely fighting other Syrian rebels, and were disappointed by this. 2. Defectors believed…”

— Zack Beauchamp, vox.com

“On the leader of ISIS: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi revels in his position ‘as the world’s top terrorist, who sees himself as a successor to Osama bin Laden. Once you remove the mystique and grandeur, the ‘caliph’ turns out to be a rather ordinary man who saw his opportunity and took it. He is no different…”

— Sajad Jiyad, newsweek.com

“If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him. Do not lack. Do no…”

— Abu Muhammad Al ‘Adnani, triceratops.brynmawr.edu

“I think a successor organization to ISIS seven years from now will make what ISIS is doing look like yesterday’s news”

— Jared Cohen, newsweek.com

“ISIS isn't strong. It's weak. That doesn't mean it's not dangerous, or that it can't hurt us. But we shouldn't pretend these are invincible superterrorists. They're murderers fighting a war that they will lose and Americans will win.”

— Ezra Klein, vox.com

“O sons of the Islamic State, indeed the battle has not yet intensified, and what’s coming will be worse and more bitter. So sharpen your determination, and attack, for glory stands before you.”

— Abu Muhammad al-‘Adnani, pietervanostaeyen.files.wordpress.com