1. Analise and Hope
ISIL in Iraq

2. About the Conflict
Between the Islamic State in the Levant and the states in which it operates
ISIL & Syria currently
Threats of Nigeria & Libya
Affiliates in other countries
Analysis of the causes and consequences of spread of global terrorism
Consequences:
Cultural
Political
Economic

3. Key Ethnic Identities Sunni Arabs Shiite Arabs Kurds Yazidis
20% of Iraq
Live in “Sunni triangle”
Shiite Arabs
68% of Iraq
Shiites live only in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India
Kurds
Make up 15-18% of Iraq
Most are Sunni
Mostly live in North
Yazidis
Approx. 300,000 in Iraq
Kurdish & Zoroastrian

4. U.S. Involvement 2003: U.S. Invasion of Iraq
2006: Appointment of PM Nouri al-Maliki
2011: U.S. troops leave, Maliki solidifies ethnic divides
2 campaigns establish ISIL support network
“Breaking the Walls”
“Soldiers Harvest”

5. The Birth of ISIL Ideological split from Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Zarqawi & Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Foundations set by al-Zarqawi & ISI
Strict interpretation of Islamic texts
Salafist and Takfiri Teachings
Beyond Global Jihadism
Short term goals
Islamic Caliphate over Middle East
Long term goals
Global Influence

6. ISIL’s Ideology Actors
Icons
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Religious Scholars
Issue fatwas
Strategic Thinkers
Young members of militant groups
Ideological Actors
Use of propaganda and justifications
Rely heavily on recruitment
Grassroots Radicals
Indirect online spread of jihadism

7. ISIL on Social Media Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
“Twitter bombs”
Social Media Branding
#hashtag branding
YouTube
Violent videos of attacks
Videos showing fighters living well
Phone Apps
“Dawn of Good Tidings”

8. ISIL in the Print Media
Dabiq
Islamic State Report

9. Key Findings
ISIL uses religious ideology as justification for gaining power
Apostacy
First terror network with a successful social media campaign
Uses as way to gain recruits abroad, uses as a fear tactic domestically
ISIL’s current operations are economically unsustainable
Lacks long-term sustainability
Western response required
Undermining of ISIL propaganda tactics

10. Implications International: West should undermine propaganda tactics
Bring to light:
ISIL crimes
ISIL military failures
Infighting between ISIL & al-Qaeda
Domestic: Creation of a common Iraqi nationalist identity
Joint committees & organizations to stabilize and bring unity to Iraq