3 chapters across the catalog
The Institute for the Study of War is tracking ISIS advances across key border crossings between Iraq and Syria, including At Tanf and Abu Kamal. Media outlets like the New York Times are criticized for propagating a "sectarian war" theme that simplifies the conflict into Sunni versus Shiite divisions. Human Rights Watch reports indicate that ISIS is increasingly recruiting child soldiers as they seize more territory.
Kim Kagan, Institute for the Study of War Analysis
Kimberly Kagan of the Institute for the Study of War appeared on C-SPAN to discuss the escalating crisis in Iraq and Syria. She emphasizes the use of the term "ISIS" as the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Al-Sham), which refers to the Levant region. Her presentation style is compared to a televangelist, and her analysis focuses on the need for US military action to counter the extremist group's southward movement toward Baghdad.
ISIS Annual Report, Institute for the Study of War Metrics
ISIS has released a sophisticated annual report featuring metrics on suicide bombings, assassinations, and territory seized. The Institute for the Study of War, led by Kim Kagan, has translated and promoted these findings. The Institute's credibility is questioned by referencing Elizabeth Obagy, a former staffer who provided research to John McCain and John Kerry before it was discovered she had falsified her academic credentials.
