TERRORISM: COMMENTARY ON SECURITY DOCUMENTS VOLUME 143 The Evolution of the Islamic State

Terrorism: Commentary on Security Documents is a series that provides primary source documents and expert commentary on various topics relating to the worldwide effort to combat terrorism, as well as efforts by the United States and other nations to protect their national security interests. Volume 143, The Evolution of the Islamic State, focuses on the U.S. response to the Islamic State (IS) both in Syria and Iraq from a foreign policy standpoint and a military strategy perspective, as well as considering the impact of the rise of IS on the broader global jihadist movement. Consideration is also given to the importance of information warfare in countering IS's worldwide recruiting efforts via the Internet.

This volume also includes documents examining related issues of great importance, including a report considering IS's financing, a report on the legal issues arising in connection with U.S. military action against IS, the role of Shia warlords and militias in Iraq in opposing IS, and the lessons that can be learned from the support provided to IS by European fighters.

Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr., is the Director of the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College. Earlier in his military career, he worked on national security directives. He holds an MBA degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a J.D. from Widener School of Law.

Introduction

A. U.S. POLICY FOR DEALING WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 1: The "Islamic State" Crisis and U.S. Policy, CRS Report No. R43612, Christopher M. Blanchard et al., June 11, 2015

DOCUMENT NO. 2: The Islamic State and U.S. Policy, CRS Report No. R43612, Christopher Blanchard and Carla E. Humud, February 9, 2016

DOCUMENT NO. 3: Islamic State Financing and U.S. Policy Approaches, CRS Report No. R43980, Carla E. Humud et al., April 10, 2015

B. COMBATTING THE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND THE LEVANT

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 4: U.S. Military Action Against the Islamic State: Answers to Frequently Asked Legal Questions, CRS Report No. R43720, Michael John Garcia and Jennifer K. Elsea, September 9, 2014

DOCUMENT NO. 5: Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, CRS Report No. RL33487, Christopher M. Blanchard et al., October 9, 2015

DOCUMENT NO. 6: Iraq's Shia Warlords and Their Militias: Political and Security Challenges and Options, Norman Cigar, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. War College Press, June 2015

DOCUMENT NO. 7: European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States, CRS No. R44003, Kristin Archick et al., April 27, 2015

C. ISLAMIC STATE PROPAGANDA

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 8: The Islamic State and Information Warfare: Defeating ISIS and the Broader Global Jihadist Movement, Threat Knowledge Group Special Report, January 2015