Step 1:
Click on the following link, read this article and answer the questions below: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29052144
What is IS?
Isis is an islamic group that has taken land from eastern Syria and western and northern Iraq
What does IS want?
Isis want to make a caliphate, a state run by ruled by one political and religious leader according to islamic law. They have promised to break the borders of Jordan and Lebanon and free the palestinian people.
List three other important details you learned about IS from this article.
They attract the support of muslims around the world and demands that they swear allegiance to their leader.
Isis can be trace back to their old leader who became allied with al-Qaeda
Thousands of foreigners have fought for Isis
Step 2:
Next, click on the following link and read through the information and graphics on this page, answering the questions below: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/09/16/world/middleeast/how-isis-works.html
1.What are the origins of ISIS? What are the backgrounds of its leaders?
Many of Isis’s leaders are ex-saddam hussein’s army officers
2. How is ISIS organized?
They have a main leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who has a Leadership council that that helps him make decisions. Then there is the cabinet that controls departments like finance, security, media, prisoners and recruitment.
3. What territory does ISIS control?
Isis controls east Syria and Northern eastern Iraq and the major cities inside
4. Where does ISIS get its money from?
Isis get their money from oil. They have control of some of the largest oil fields in Iraq and Syria
5. How does ISIS govern?
When taking a city they use brute force to take control and then their police make sure everything is running, like shops are closed during praying times and women have their body covered in public. They also make sure that gas stations are running and bakeries and markets.
6. How many fighters does ISIS have?
they have between 20,000 to 31,500 troops
7. What weapons does ISIS have?
They have american M4 and M16 rifles, they also have m79 anti-tank missiles from saudi arabia.
Step 3:
Go to the following link and select five images (photos, tables, graphs, etc.) to analyze: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/the-iraq-isis-conflict-in-maps-photos-and-video.html
For each image, list the title of the image and then explain what stands out to you from that image. What does it tell you about ISIS?
Image #1
Title: Destruction in Kobani
Explanation: I don’t much about the conflict in the Middle East but I this idea in my head that nearly the whole city would have been destroyed. It shows me that Isis isn’t afraid to destroy things but they are also conscious of who is living there.
Image #2
Title: Border Crossing
Explanation: The first picture is of an empty Syrian/Turkish border. The next picture is of the same border but filled with cars that all point to won opening on the border. This tells me that people are scared of isis.
Image #3
Title: Refugee Camp
Explanation: This first picture the camp is empty with no one in sight but the next picture the camp is packed full of refugees. Isis is scaring even more people from their country.
Image #4
Title: Turkish Kurds
Explanation: Kurds watch as their brothers fight Isis in the city of Kobani and Turkish Tanks watch as the fighting continues. This shows that Isis is not scared of any one, they even have the guts to fight 1 miles from turkey.
Image #5
Title: Isis battles Kurds over Syrian border
Explanation: U.S. is launching airstrikes at isis in konabi but Isis still attacks a mile from Turkey.
Step 4:
Overarching Analysis – Based on the research you have conducted so far, answer the questions below.
1. Why are so many countries concerned about ISIS? What do you think?
Isis is a growing Organisation that have an amazing income and hates the west and pose as a threat. I would
...(download the rest of the essay above)