Annotated Bibliography:
Understanding Terrorism in America (From Klan to al Qaeda) - Terrorist attack recognition
Islamic State of Iraq creates reign of terror - Homeland
In the words of our enemies - Fixed mindset/propaganda + terrorist attack recognition
Inside the mind of ISIS: understanding its goals and ideology to better protect the homeland: hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session, January 20, 2016. - propaganda + their methods to convert those to their ideas
Intro:
Inquiry Question: How is ISIS a threat to the American Homeland?
Thesis: ISIS is a treat to the American Homeland because of
- their terrorist attack recognition
- having connections with people in the USA
- their methods too convert those to their ideas
- Fixed mindset
- Their taunting strategies
- Propaganda (skillful propaganda, particularly on social media)
ISIS also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is a a terrorist group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Today they are the largest, successful and most violent group operating in Iraq and Syria. They hope to establish a pure Islamic state or a global caliphate. The group has been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths worldwide and they embrace a violent and hardline version of Islam by using acts of terror against civilians around the world. ISIS fund itself by extracting taxes, extortion and selling oil and they have been focusing on expanding their territory. Although ISIS have been shifting their focus on attacking outside Syria and Iraq. ISIS is a treat to the American Homeland because of their terrorist attack recognition, having connections with people in the USA and their methods to convert those to their idea.
Body paragraph #1sub-topic: terrorist attack recognition
Growth of terrorist attack + their capability -
“Moderation in Iran is now, and been since 1979, a façade. The Iranians are a very capable adversary. They have adapted to the new means of fighting wars - television, the Internet, and more-better than the rest of the terrorist world. With the vast majority of their population under age thirsty and with the proliferation of television, the Internet, and more-better than the rest of terrorist world. With the vast majority of their population under age thirsty and with the proliferation of televised media, they are working hard to make the world believe that they are not only moderates, but Westernized. In truth, they are neither. They are, as they have been since they overthrew the Shah twenty-eight years ago, the most radical and dedicated terrorist regime in the world.” (pg. 90) The Iranians are on another level when it comes to talking about terrorism. They are capable of being more advanced than other terrorist groups in the world. They are dangerous and they have future plans to attack the United States. As Americans, they have to more aware with what they could potentially do to destroy this big land.
Terrorist Attack recognition -
“So from 2012, the number of attacks reported by the State Department in this report was 6,771. In 2014, the number of attacks had grown to 16,800 worldwide. That is 2.5 times the number of attacks just 2 years earlier.
In terms of deaths, in 2012 there were 11,000 individuals killed in terrorist attacks. In 2014, there were 43,500. That is almost a fourfold increase in terrorist attacks. So the fact of the matter is, the risk, the threat of Islamic terror, from my standpoint, it is real. It is growing, and statistics prove it.” (pg.2) The difference between the terrorist attack between 2012 and 2014 are horrific and they have become worse. Terrorist attacks are increasing and it has been proven in their statistics.
Terrorist Attack recognition -
“As the Paris and San Bernardino terror attacks showed us, ISIS and ISIS-inspired attacks remain a major threat in this country. In fact, just last week, ISIS carried out attacks against our allies in Turkey and I believe in Indonesia.” (pg.2)
Complete
Body paragraph #2sub-topic: their methods too convert those to their ideas/propaganda
Propaganda -
“I think the amount of land they control in Syria and Iraq is down by about 30 percent in recent months and continues to diminish. But even as they suffer serious defeats on the battlefield and lose key leaders, ISIS still attempts to project an image of indestructibility. And they do this through fictitious claims and propaganda on social media, and also by ignoring the truth about the progress that coalition forces are making. This winner message appeals to many young men who crave fame, fortune, love, and increased social standing.” (pg.3) Even though ISIS have been losing ground lately, they keep on using their social media propaganda to keep on showing their power and ignoring the progression of their adversary.
Their methods to convert those to their ideas -
“One of ISIS’s key strengths is the large number of recruits that they are able to pull in. And despite the heavy losses inflicted on ISIS by coalition forces in recent months, the number of ISIS fighters on the ground in Iraq and Syria remains pretty much the same thanks to a stream of new recruits flowing into the region on a regular basis.” (pg.2)
Complete
Body paragraph #3sub-topic: fixed mindset/propaganda
Fixed mindset -
“In the same manner, “death to America” is also meant for the Iranian nation not to forget that the world’s hegemonic powers who formerly had great interests this country and who lost those interests because of the Islamic Revolution are always trying to once again secure those interests and increase their wealth at the cost of the hindering our country’s progress and destroying the bright prospects of our talented youngsters.” (pg. 92) Twenty-six years after the revolution, the Iranian people still chant the slogan of “death to America”. The Iranian nation wants to increase their wealth by harming the people in America, like a sort of jealousy and revanche.
Propaganda -
“ISIS also appears to have a significant online army that grows daily, and these ‘‘virtual’’ soldiers may never set foot in the territory that ISIS controls, but they are waging an aggressive social media campaign that calls on people to do the group’s bidding from thousands of miles away. These battlefield recruits and online supporters are attracted not only to ISIS’s ideology, but to its image as well. And what is that image? Well, the image that ISIS would like to project is that of a winner.” (pg.2)
Complete
Conclusion
[General Information] -
“At the end of the day, this battle against ISIS is a war of words and ideas as much as it is a war of military power and action. That is why it is so important that we not only continue to crush ISIS on the battlefield, but also counter their hateful message.” (pg.3)
Complete
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