How the USA Inadvertently Created ISIS

The emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) marked one of the most significant security threats in the 21st century. Its rapid rise and unprecedented brutality shocked the global community. While many factors contributed to its creation, the role of U.S. foreign policy decisions, particularly in Iraq and Syria, cannot be ignored. The following explores the unintended consequences of these policies and how they shaped the conditions for ISIS to thrive.

The Precursor: The 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq is widely regarded as the starting point of the chain of events that facilitated ISIS’s rise.

1. Disbanding the Iraqi Army
   Following Saddam Hussein’s ousting, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), led by Paul Bremer, implemented two controversial policies:
   • De-Ba’athification: This removed members of Saddam’s Ba’ath Party from government roles, effectively purging Iraq’s political and military leadership.
   • Disbanding the Iraqi Army: Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi soldiers, many of whom were Sunni, were left unemployed and humiliated. This created a pool of skilled, disgruntled individuals who later joined insurgent groups. (Source: Council on Foreign Relations)
2. Sectarian Governance
   The post-invasion governance structure, dominated by Shia factions, marginalised the Sunni population. This exclusion deepened sectarian divides and fuelled Sunni grievances, laying fertile ground for extremist recruitment.
3. Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)
   In this volatile environment, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi established AQI, the precursor to ISIS. AQI exploited Sunni disenfranchisement and gained a foothold in Iraq by presenting itself as a defender of Sunni interests.

The Role of Syrian Civil War

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, provided the ideal conditions for ISIS to expand.

1. Power Vacuums
   As the Assad regime struggled to maintain control, large swathes of Syrian territory became ungoverned. These power vacuums allowed extremist groups, including ISIS, to gain control over critical regions.
2. U.S. Support for Syrian Rebels
   The U.S. initiated programs like Timber Sycamore to arm and train Syrian rebels opposing Assad. However, the lack of stringent vetting procedures meant that some U.S.-supplied arms ended up in the hands of extremist factions, including ISIS affiliates. (Source: The Intercept)
3. Cross-Border Operations
   The porous borders between Iraq and Syria facilitated ISIS’s transformation from a regional insurgency into a transnational terrorist organisation. By 2014, ISIS declared a caliphate spanning both countries.

The Prison Breaks: A Catalyst for Growth

A pivotal moment in ISIS’s evolution was a series of prison breaks orchestrated between 2012 and 2014. These operations freed thousands of experienced jihadists who joined ISIS’s ranks.

1. U.S.-Run Prisons in Iraq
   During the occupation, the U.S. managed facilities like Camp Bucca where thousands of suspected militants were detained. These prisons became incubators for radicalization. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who later became ISIS’s leader, was held at Camp Bucca. (Source: The Guardian)
2. Exploitation of Instability
   The instability caused by the Syrian war and Iraq’s fragile political system enabled ISIS to launch successful prison breaks, significantly bolstering its operational capacity.

The Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraq

The 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq further destabilised the region. While the decision reflected domestic political pressures, it had several unintended consequences:

1. Empowering Maliki’s Sectarian Rule
   Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Shia-dominated government increasingly marginalised Sunnis. Without U.S. oversight, his administration pursued policies that exacerbated sectarian divisions, creating an environment ripe for insurgency.
2. Reduced Counterterrorism Pressure
   The absence of U.S. military forces allowed AQI to regroup and evolve into ISIS. By the time ISIS launched its major offensives in 2014, Iraqi security forces were ill-prepared to counter the threat.

The Role of Propaganda and Social Media

While military and political factors were crucial, ISIS’s ability to exploit modern technology also played a significant role in its rise.

1. Sophisticated Recruitment Campaigns
   ISIS used social media platforms to recruit fighters from around the world, presenting its caliphate as a utopian project. The U.S. failed to counter this narrative effectively in the early stages.
2. Propaganda Videos
   High-quality videos showcasing ISIS’s military victories and governance drew global attention. This propaganda machine was instrumental in attracting thousands of foreign fighters to the region.

Counterproductive U.S. Actions

Certain U.S. actions intended to combat ISIS inadvertently strengthened the group:

1. Drone Strikes and Civilian Casualties
   U.S. drone strikes targeting ISIS leaders often caused collateral damage, killing civilians and fuelling anti-American sentiments. This resentment was exploited by ISIS to recruit more fighters.
2. The Rise of Proxy Wars
   The U.S.’s reliance on regional allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey in its fight against ISIS sometimes backfired. Differing priorities among these allies complicated efforts to present a unified front against ISIS.
3. Supporting the Zionist Genocide in Gaza by Israel has led to the mass alienation of Muslims across the globe.

The rise of ISIS cannot be attributed to a single cause but rather to a combination of regional instability, sectarian divides, and the unintended consequences of U.S. foreign policy. While the U.S. did not deliberately create ISIS, its actions, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the mismanagement of post-invasion governance, and the handling of the Syrian conflict, played a significant role in creating the conditions for the group’s emergence.

Understanding these dynamics is crucial for policymakers to avoid repeating similar mistakes in the future. Addressing the root causes of extremism, such as political marginalisation and economic disparity, must take precedence over military solutions.

References

1. Council on Foreign Relations: The Rise of ISIS
2. The Intercept: Timber Sycamore and the Arming of Syrian Rebels
3. The Guardian: Prison Radicalization
4. Brookings Institution: Comparing Al-Qaeda and ISIS
5. The New York Times: The Impact of U.S. Policies in Iraq and Syria