Al Zarqawi and the Rise of ISIS

Describe the background of Abu Musab al Zarqawi prior to the formation of his group. 

Zarqawi was born and brought up in Zarqa in Jordan, which is close to a Palestinian refugee camp. He grew up within a lower-income environment under the conditions of the refugee camp since refugees live under poor conditions as most of them are entirely dependent on aid. He was a high-school dropout that had grown up into a brawler and petty criminal while also being identified as a troublemaker since he was a boy. During his childhood, Zarqawi was exposed to the struggles that Jordan has experienced with Islamic extremists. Heavy clashes between the Jordanian government and the Palestinian guerillas that threatened Jordan’s sovereignty spilled into the town of Zarqa (Warrick, 2015). Zarqawi was also one of the young Jordanian men that volunteered to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. Once he returned to his village, Zarqawi joined a group that started to look for ways to continue struggling with the perceived enemies of Islam. He lived a criminal life and was frequently in and out of prison. In the prisons that he was in, Zarqawi frequently defied the authorities, and when he and the others were confined, he resorted to brutalizing the inmates he was with. 

Zarqawi was converted to a radical when in prison in Jordan, where he was turned into an Islam extremist. While in jail, he started to memorize the Koran and developed a hatred for the perceived enemies of Allah. His increased radicalization even resulted in him cutting off a tattoo on his arm that he had received before becoming a Muslim. He developed a strong sense of leadership among the Islamist prisoners. Other prisoners started to view him as a leader, which resulted in Zarqawi holding a similar level of power as the current leader, Maqdisi. Maqdisi was the leader who had established Zarqawi as his enforcer due to his physical demeanor and attitude. The government of Jordan later granted amnesty to a group of political prisoners in 1999, which included Aby Musab. 

The Mukhabarat played a key role in the life of Zarqawi. What is the Mukhabarat? Discuss at least three points where this group Impacted (both positively and negatively) the life of Zarqawi. 

The Mukhabarat is Jordan’s intelligence service which had its focus on establishing counterterrorism activities. One of the main aims of the Mukhabarat was to keep Zarqawi's terrorist group from gaining a foothold. Over time, the actions made by this intelligence service had several effects on the direction or trajectory of Zarqawi's life. Z arqawi’s first interaction with the intelligence service was when he came back home after fighting under the Mujahedeen army’s Islamic banner in Afghanistan. When he was a known leader of a cell of Afghan war veterans, the Mukhabarat agents also watched his house and arrested him while he was sleeping. Once they captured him, he was taken to the fortress-like headquarters of the Mukhabarat for interrogation (Warrick, 2015). However, the interrogations were not successful as all Zarqawi did was restate his ideological beliefs. He and twelve other members of the cell eventually signed confessions that admitted to possessions of illegal weapons and structuring an act of terrorism. The penalties provided after this affected Zarqawi negatively as they only served to strengthen his religious views resulting in further radicalization. 

Another point of impact was when Zarqawi went to Queen Alia International Airport with the plan of permanently escaping Jordan. His cover story was that he was going into business as an international honey merchant. However, the Mukharbat had created a plan to stop him at the airport and counter his steps. The counterterrorism division of the service had followed his preparation for weeks. The intelligence service confined him for three days while carefully assessing his belongings. The interrogations during this interaction were also unsuccessful as his religious talk could not be identified as constituting a crime. Their inability to detain him at their airport resulted in him leaving for Pakistan, where Osama Bin Laden was known to be at the time. 

Thirdly, Zarqawi had several interactions with the Mukhabarat while in prison. The interrogation methods within this prison included extreme physical cruelty. To constantly agitate Zarqawi and his counterparts, the Mukhabarat applied a strategy known as 'annoyances.' A pair of offices would go to the Khalayleh house, even late at night, and tell Zarqawi to ride with them. These constant visits not only agitated Zarqawi but only strengthened his resolve to continue pursuing his ideological beliefs. 

List several factors that assisted in the rise of ISIS. Many of these are global in nature.

ISIS can be described as insurgents who utile terrorism and do so in a systematic way. The group was based on extreme violence and a perspective that dehumanizes all the individuals that are outside the organization. One of the main factors that helped in the rise of ISIS was the removal of Saddam from power in 2003 by the US-led alliance (Warrick, 2015). This removal meant that Sunnis that had mainly been power-brokers within Iraq were deprived of their privileges. Members of the Sunni minority joined ISIS as a way to further strengthen their religious identities. The rise of ISIS was further supported by the territory. By having independent clusters in different locations, ISIS was able to occupy greater physical space. Another factor was access to resources. The cash started to come to the militants from wealthy individuals, crimes such as kidnapping and extortion, and from seizing resources of great monetary value such as oil. 

The last factor was the tactical aspect of ISIS. For more than ten years, ISIS established the west as the main target, at least in theory. The aim of Bin Laden was radicalization and mobilization through violence. This radicalization resulted in an uprising among the Muslims against unbelievers, increasing the support for ISIS. 

Both the Bush and Obama administrations identified Zarqawi and his group as a link between Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden. What made them believe this? Was it accurate? 

In 2003, Iraq was identified as harboring the terrorist network that was headed by Zarqawi as working for and collaborating with Osama Bin Laden and his generals in Al Qaeda. One of the main things indicating that Zarqawi was the connection between Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden was the financial connections that existed between them. After Saddam Hussein was overthrown, Zarqawi was able to gain a greater level of power. Zarqawi was able to gain the freedom to move and the powerful allies with the willingness and ability to facilitate his capabilities. The captains and sergeants who had earlier worked with Saddam Hussein were now identified as being a part of Zarqawi's army, and some were recognized as existing leadership positions (Warrick, 2015). Other identified factors included the provision of safe houses, intelligence, cash, and weapons by individuals that were once in Hussein's army. While Zarqawi's independent role was difficult to establish, he was identified as a link to the directed events and attacks within Iraq and Syria. In a way, he acted as a consul for both of these leaders. 

What was the relationship between Al Qaeda and ISIS? What activities led to some of their differences, and what were these differences? 

The main relationship between Al Qaeda and ISIS exists between the coalition between Bin Laden and Zarqawi. In order to get access to the resources provided by Al Qaeda, Zarqawi swore allegiance to Al Qaeda. A merger was established between the two groups, and a partnership was created to establish an Islam Caliphate in Iraq (Warrick, 2015). Following this allegiance, ISIS acted as a franchisee of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Zarqawi gained the title of Emir. Bin Laden gave Zarqawi the funds that he required to further develop his group. While Zarqawi at first indicated a refusal to give allegiance and be part of the Al Qaeda, he also had similar goals. Finally, he pledged loyalty and received the prestige of the group to further support his legitimacy. However, while the formation of ISIS is intricately tied with Al Qaeda, the two groups have several differences. 

The main differences between these groups are based on their perceived enemies, activities, and main issues. While the main goal of Al Qaeda is to remove the despotic and corrupt governments within the Middle East and install better governments based on the Islamic religion, ISIS has a different goal. ISIS is focused on the regimes in the Arab world that they believe have defected from the Muslim faith. The main focus of ISIS was on the purification of the Islamic community by directing attacks on the Shi’a and other religious minorities along with rival jihadist groups. Al Qaeda favors extensive attacks against identified targets, such as the attacks during 9/11, as they can send a clear message. ISIS was structured as a result of the wars in Iraq and Syria, and its strategies are based on this aim. ISIS is focused on conquering, which is observed through its deployment of artillery and massed forces and moving into new areas while defending the current holdings. 

Briefly describe the role play by King Abdullah of Jordan in regard to Zarqawi's activities. 

When King Abdullah declared a general amnesty, Zarqawi was released from prison, where he was able to utilize the army that he had already established. Zarqawi's amnesty resulted in the release of a group of Muslims who had already been radicalized and later resulted in the formation of ISIS. Another activity by King Abdullah of Jordan was his denouncing of extremism, radicalism, and fanaticism. Additionally, he acquired the support of hundreds of Muslim scholars who also denounced the use of the Muslim faith for extremist acts (Warrick, 2015). By drawing a line between Islam and the hateful takfiri creed use by Zarqawi to justify the killing of those, he regarded as apostates resulted in Zarqawi gaining greater sympathy from Osama Bin Laden. These actions only served to further establish the alliance between ISIS and Al Qaeda. This merger was focused on the establishment or restoration of a Muslim Caliphate. 

Zarqawi sought to foment chaos and Civil War. What two groups did he perceive to be the enemy, and how did he accomplish this goal? 

One of the groups that Zarqawi believed was the enemy was the U.S. forces. In his recruitment efforts and communications with his people, he established the Americans as being cowards and uninterested in holding a real fight. The second group that was viewed as the enemy was the Shiite majority. Zarqawi viewed the Shiite majority as an obstacle to the growth of the Muslim faith (Warrick, 2015). They were defined as the spying enemy and worse than paganism. Zarqawi was identified as having nothing in common with Islam and established that they had an aim to destroy the Sunni aim. By establishing that an alliance existed between the Shiite majority and the Americans, he was able to raise a sense of betrayal from the Sunni minority. 

Zarqawi accomplished this goal by gaining the official endorsement of Al-Qaeda. While his organization had already been behind major terrorist attacks within Iraq, the endorsement from this new terrorist organization would provide them with increased access to global resources. By outlining the well-laid strategy, Zarqawi pled allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda organization. Based on this alliance, Zarqawi was able to access substantial resources and materials which supported his war. He gained access to funds, recruits, and resources that aided his war against the U.S. and the Shiite majority. 

Discuss the manner in which Zarqawi recruited his followers. (There were several ways.) 

One of the main methods of recruitment was to gain Islamist volunteers from Jordan and other countries of the Levant. Zarqawi also utilized videos that were posted to Jihadist websites to recruit new followers. These websites were utilized by an audience that was aware of the battle that he meant. These videos were also utilized to recruit volunteers from suicide bombings in the videotapes appealing to new recruits. Zarqawi provided the usual platitudes concerning heavenly rewards. Zarqawi also supplied his email address for communication with interested candidates. After the email exchange, an army of handlers was utilized to guide the potential recruit through screening and indoctrination and then along a chain of safe houses. Zarqawi also acquired recruits from the Al-Qaeda network who had greater access to candidates and the funds needed (Warrick, 2015). Another tool for recruitment that Zarqawi utilized was media games. Through the media games, he was able to access candidates that could be aligned with his agenda. The last tool that he utilized was internet violence as a weapon. He structured and designed execution videos which he used to project himself as a form of a jihadist action figure. The combination of all these methods resulted in immense recruitment of candidates. 

What clues did American and Jordanian intelligence find that led to finding and killing Zarqawi? 

The death of Zarqawi resulted from the contributions of both Iraqi and American intelligence forces. Another clue was an increase in the number of attacks on Shiite civilians, a primary tactic used by Zarqawi to foment civil war. Based on the patterns of movement in the region and the activities taking place within the area, the Mukhabarat was able to pinpoint Baqubah as one of the locations that Zarqawi was likely in. One of the main clues was the video that Zarqawi released, which showed him making plans for operations in the desert of Iraq (Warrick, 2015). This video served to expose his range of safe houses. These taps were taken in his house, where his followers had been killing Shiites and their enemies for more than two years. 

The operation was based on tips given to Iraqi soldiers by the local informants. The Mukhabarat captured Karbouly and other Zarqawi operatives. The interrogations of these individuals were successful in yielding essential insights. Based on his years as a customs officer, Karbouly was aware of all the ratlines utilized by Zarqawi for the smuggling of supplies and recruits. He also sketched out a number of towns that Zarqawi may have stayed in. The interrogation of Mubassir by the U.S. intelligence forces was also a crucial clue that helped in the killing of Zarqawi. The confession that was presented by Mubassir was that Zarqawi had a spiritual adviser who he met regularly almost once each week. This confession was essential in the final location of the hideout that Zarqawi had been using. 

The U.S. forces were tracking his spiritual adviser, Sheikh Abdul-Rhaman, who then led them to the safe house beyond Baqubah, where they had arranged a meeting. Zarqawi was killed during this meeting. 

How did the Arab Spring impact ISIS after Zarqawi's death? 

The Arab Spring refers to a wide range of protests and uprisings against the government that occurred in a majority of nations in the Arab world in the early 2010s. It started as a response to the level of oppression in regimes and a lower standard of living, beginning with protests in Tunisia. 

After Zarqawi's death, the Arab Spring resulted in the decreased power of ISIS. The Islamic State had a new leader known as Baghdadi. While Baghdadi attempted to share helpful suggestions through the media arm of ISIS to the masses of protestors in Cairo, his suggestions were not taken by the protestors. These suggestions included a plea to empty the prisons in Egypt, which contained a majority of the most experienced and committed Islamists (Warrick, 2015). However, the crowds driving the Arab spring in Cairo and Benghazi did not show any tolerance for the replacement of their secular tyrants with their religious leader of ISIS. Instead, the crowds appeared to focus on their demands for better living conditions along with expressions of national pride. 

The support for attacks on Muslim civilians, which was the main channel of violence expression of ISIS, had declined considerably. While ISIS attempted to dispatch suicide bombers after some time into the Iraqi capital to kill and main, there was no attention paid to them. As American troops had already left the country and the Iraqis had their focus on the conflict going on in the Iraqi parliament, the attacks appeared pointless to the rest of the population. After the Arab Spring, the Islamic State of Iraq became irrelevant as citizens no longer supported its message. 

What do you believe are the major lessons that the United States learned as a result of the Zarqawi business? What should they have learned but didn't? (Give at least three major lessons). 

There are major lessons that the United States learned as a result of the Zarqawi business. One of the main lessons is that instead of focusing on the limitation of radicalized individuals, the U.S. should focus on the resolution of conflict within the affected countries. By focusing on diminishing the fragmentation in a country, the U.S. government will avoid the grouping of terrorists within the country (Onyeachalom, 2019). A focus on minimizing fragmentation within the affected nations will instead mitigate the increase of radicalized individuals such as Zarqawi. 

The second major lesson is to avoid the temptation of over-regulating the religious sphere while attempting to combat jihadism. Instead, the U.S. should support and allow for the expression of non-violent religious expressions. While attempting to capture Zarqawi and minimize the impact of radicalized groups, the U.S. also focused on limiting religious expressions. However, a focus on primarily combatting jihadism would have been critical. 

The last lesson was that the U.S. should focus on supporting greater regional and international counterterrorism cooperation. In the case of Jordan, there was a clear lack of collaboration with the Jordanian intelligence service. This lack of collaboration had a severe impact on the ability of the U.S. to capture Zarqawi sooner. Hence, the U.S. should halt the excessive tug-of-war with other countries instead of focusing on establishing stronger alliances. 

References 

Onyeacholam, N. A. (2019). United States of America's global counterterrorism since September 11th 2001: An appraisal. International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences,  8(11), 98-113. 

Warrick, J. (2015 ). Black flags: The rise of ISIS . Anchor.