Understanding ISIS

Two useful articles appeared this past week that shed some light on our ISIS problem.  One, an Op-ed by George Will, appeared in the WASHINGTON POST (Thursday, November 13, 2014.)  Another, posted on POLITICO, was penned by one Akbar Ahmed.

Titled "The GOP's war debate", Will's piece neatly summarized how difficult it is for our politics to rethink anything.  At least, not in a very timely way.  I had argued earlier (see my post below) that we cannot possibly contemplate a long war against ISIS, with no "boots on the ground," and that indeed such a notion violates the fundamental principles of warfare.  Nevertheless, we seem to be dithering, collectively, with the very idea of whether we should act at all. My argument was that if we act, it must be with unrestrained violence of action.  But that is only necessary; it is not sufficient.

Will focused on the tears in the Republican fabric, but it is easy enough to expand on it to include our entire body politic.  We cannot agree on what to do, and Congress and the Executive are pulling the nation in just about every possible direction.  After treating us to a history lesson, as he often does, Will reminds of the important point that American political values are not universally held.  Although he doesn't explicitly state this predicate, that is one reason why we get poor outcomes even as we ourselves are convinced of our rightness.  And for another thing, that is why we are presently very confused.

Now there's another problem.  We do not understand this enemy, ISIS.  Enter Mr. Ahmed.  His post in POLITICO is called "What Washington Doesn't Get About ISIS" .  Well, what is that?  By way of answer, he introduces us to the notion of Tribal Islam.  Yes, they are Muslim, but that is not what urges their behavior.  I quote from his article: "The core feature that defines Muslim tribal people - including those fighting under the banner of ISIS - across the Muslim world is belonging to a particular family or clan group who all believe they are descended from a common ancesotor.  Their actions are defined by a code of honor which emphasizes hospitality toward strangers, bravery and courage in battle, and, crucially, revenge."

The tribal code trumps Islam, he tells us.  Reading between the lines, ISIS could be motivated by rage against perceived wrongs and a thirst for revenge against its traditional enemies, and, of course, the west.  Perhaps Islam is but window dressing for what looks to be much much more primitive and evidently barbaric.  For them, a corrupt reading of Islam "justifies" the unjustifiable.  Except, for them, they believe it is justified.

Could this insight illuminate "radical Islam" as well?  ISIS sends out the clarion call for followers and fighters under their perverted Islamic screed.  And truthfully, most people, and youth, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or another confession, really know little of their religion other than what they are told.  It seems plausible that by this mechanism Tribal Islam is exportable as Radical Islam to the impressionable.  The latter being sort of the outer circle of the problem.

Here perhaps is a start on understanding the threat, and hence understanding how to craft a strategy.  I encourage my readers to peruse these articles for yourselves.

Twitter: @unrefuted
Email: myirrefutableopinion@gmail.com