Countering the ISIS /ISIL Threat - Writing Assignment (Research Paper Sample)

Countering the ISIS/ ISIL Threat
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Introduction
Civil conflict within a country always causes tension to the government and the surrounding governments on their securities. There is a fatal tension on security due to the rise of the rebellious terrorist group known as the Islamic State, IS, which is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL/ISIS). This terrorist group has existed now for seven years and as emerged to be a major threat to the government of Syria. A large area in Syria consisting of the north-eastern part and the central Syria is being controlled by the Islamic State. This group crates assault on forces opposed to the Syrian government and forces aligned with the Syrian government. This paper analyses who the ISIS/ ISIL is, how it is a threat to America and possible ways of counteracting the threat posed by this group and recommendations to help counteract the group.
ISIS and its threat to America
ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Levant; it also stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It is a terrorist group which emerged in Iraq from a radical Sunni Jihadist who fought under the influence of “al-Qaeda in Iraq”. The group started back in the year 1999 as the Jama’at al Tawhid Wal-Jihad. This group has ties across the world with other radical and extreme terrorist groups. Geographically, ISI is found in Iraq, Algeria, Syria, Libya and Lebanon. Their aim is to achieve Caliphate state in the world. In Arabic, Caliph means successor and an ecclesiastic with such tittle is regarded by Sunni believers as an “Iman chosen by Allah from the family of direct descendants of Muhammad the prophet.” Thus it is also known as the caliphate. The group has inhabited many parts of Syria and forced many inhabitants of Syrian to be refugees in their country and move to Jordan for sanctuary and safety. The goal of this group is to attain power over the worldwide Muslims and to free their people whom they term as infidels (Parry , 2014).
The impact of this group has been felt in France, Europe and America. Their actions on civil people have been considered a severe abuse of human rights and the civil rights by the Amnesty International and the United Nations. This group conducted their terrorist attack as a retributive for things that they felt America and Europe had done as a show of power over them. United States have tried to employ its security operations towards this terrorist group so as to reduce the threat caused by this group to its personnel in Iraq (Parry , 2014). In August 2016, there was experienced a Syrian airstrike near the U.S proximity where its personnel were operating from. This caused the United Nation to send some more U.S air patrols to that ground to help maintain security for its personnel. To achieve this it has tried much to prevent the Islamic State from using Syria as base for their operation in Iraq. There are members of this group in United States of unknown numbers and also the UK government does not know where exactly they are located (Morell, 2015). United States military is trying to flush members of the group out but because of the nature, it has been a hard task.
Intelligence Agencies that can Bring an Impact
An intelligence agency is a government institution which is tasked with the responsibility to collect, exploit and analyse valuable information and intelligence to help protect its national interest. Intelligence agencies aid the country to cope and maintain its securities matters and also to protect it from any likely security breach. Within the intelligence agency, there exist other spy agencies that collect secret information to help the country maintain its internal and external security which might interfere with the country’s stability in either political terms or economical terms. Personnel of an intelligence agency must act as the country’s spies, agents or undercover officer and vows his life to work as a secret agent for the state (Laqueur, 1985).
In the year 2012, there was a peace negotiation which failed between the Syrian government and the opposition under the guidance of the Geneva Communique. The communique was endorsed by the two governments of United States and Russia and it advocated for a transitional governing in Syria which is endorsed with full executive power to govern the country. The government would include members of the opposition, the present government and other groups and be formed on the root of mutual consent. Other subsequent attempts has also failed which brings in the idea that some other methods can be employed to help attain the peace in the country (Gambhir, 2015). One of the methods that now remain to counteract such evils caused by the ISIS is the use of intelligence agency. For the intelligence agency to work well, some factors must be considered to choose which intelligence agency to use. Some critics on the approach to be used suggest that some willing effective Syrian partners should also be engaged to help achieve this.
Considering the argument, some of the intelligence agency which can be used to help combat the threat by the ISIS must consider covering the most crucial areas. Some of the crucial areas that appear to be part of the problem revolve around politics, social and military areas. The major problem that is being experienced arises from the action from members of a religious group meaning that social aspect must be taken into consideration in this matter. Again this groups actions are being undertaken using the military force, therefore for an equal counteraction, a military intelligence must be involved in this matter. Lastly politics have contributed to a larger perspective in this conflict, most of the attacks are directed towards various governments and also the group is anti-government therefore political intelligence must also be involved in this matter.
Capabilities of Each of the Intelligence Agency
Political Intelligence
Political intelligence agency is a function group within a country which is tasked with the duty of providing detailed data or information and analysing about the major political happenings unfolding in various countries all over the world. The mandate of this intelligence is to provide briefing for political intelligence in the country and reports on momentous political developments across the international spectrum. The reports are always written on a weekly basis and are expected to offer rich embroidery of an in-depth and dynamic international coverage which is supposed to provide information to the Country-Watch users with complex geopolitical information evolving around the world. Covered in the political intelligence briefing is Featured Country that highlights current key issues trending on the international scale. There is also edition of past political intelligence and past individual articles which also known as political intelligence wire which helps to understand fully what goes around politics of different countries (Coleman, 2016).
These duties performed by the political intelligence makes them useful in this fight. Since the problem of ISIS is to have Caliphate state, it all revolves in the political sphere. Therefore understanding the politics involved can help curb the problem. This is one of the areas which the United State had already attempted in advocating for in the communique effort of government that will include both the opposition and those already in government in the Syrian government to help in eliminating the problem, therefore when the political intelligence is employed, it will help in counteracting the force.
Military Intelligence Agency
Military intelligence agency is a special unit that are tasked with the functions of gathering and analysing information about public relation and foreigners for requisite data and underground operations at the demand of the United States president. Some of the top military intelligence agencies which can be employed in U.S include Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which is the most prominent and familiar security agency in the United State among other security agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). CIA is being considered as the top intelligence agency in the entire world and an independent agency. The chief functions of the agency include gathering and analysing information about public relation and foreigners for requisite data and underground operations at the demand of the United States president. Concerning the capability of military intelligence agency in fighting the ISIS group, it has the potential to do that. Over the years the agency has tried much to fight the ISIS group even though it has never succeeded (Morell, 2015). If it gets more back up force, it can achieve this and silence the ISIS group. Since it has involved itself in the fight for a while, it has gained some useful tricks in fighting the group. Therefore in any attempt in fighting the ISIS group, military intelligence must be involved.
Another useful military intelligence which can be employed is the MI6 which is normally known as the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom. Due to its nature of secret intelligence, MI6 is at a better position in fighting terror attacks by the ISIS group. According to news of their services, MI6 is among the best agency to employ for such an action. In its territory, MI6 in collaboration with other security agencies in the United Kingdom they managed to stop seven terror attacks which were suspected to have been planned by the ISIS group of Syria. The government of the United Kingdom through the British prime minister also announced that they are ready and willing to put more additional resources to help fight ISIS group by hiring additional 1,900 officers for its three intellige...