A Short Introduction to the Islamic State

The Islamic State, sometimes referred to as the Islamic State in Iraq, as ISIS, as ISIL, is a terrorist organization that has almost suddenly catapulted into near-statehood. They are fearsome Sunni jihadists operating in areas of eastern Syria and northern Iraq, they have carried out horrible atrocities, and have reportedly over $2 billion in assets. They are reportedly too brutal even for al-Qaeda.

Our brief introduction is written to get the reader up to speed on an the evolution of a Sunni Jihadist group from the early days of the Iraqi insurgency during the American occupation of Iraq, to what is now potentially one of the greatest threats to American and Western interests in the world.