Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe

This is an interesting book but it is VERY DETAILED and pretty dry. But it is informative and thought provoking. The actual writing is just ok and it takes considerable patience to get through it but I do recommend the book because of its insights. You have to work to get them but they are well worth the time and effort. So is the book. If I were a teacher I'd give it an A- for content, A+ for research, and a C- for style and writing technique. Overall, it's B+/A-.

This is strong look at our current enemy. Starting with historic Islamic cults, connecting Al-Queida with ISIS, and bringing the reader up to date as of January this year Nance leads the reader through complex terrain.A few points: ISIS is a small but growing cult which seeks to dominate Islam. As such they have two clear enemies 1) Islam as it is practiced by most Muslims and 2) Christianity (also known as crusaders) with whom it wants to fight for world domination.From this starting point arise the destruction of mosques belonging to other Muslim sects, the attacks on schools run by western educated Muslims and the acts of extreme violence designed to bring westerners to the battlefield.Nance has some interesting ideas on how to fight ISIS, employing the strengths of US capabilities.Since this book was published coalition forces have taken Palmyra in Syria and Fallujah in Iraq.

Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe, is a meticulously researched guide on one of the most brutal terrorist groups of our age. The author, Malcolm Nance, is a counterterrorism expert with years of experience combating what he refers to as death cults with a twisted, corrupted interpretation of Islam. In fact, he goes so far as to assert that groups like ISIS are anti-Islamic, that their actions are profoundly contrary to traditional Islam. Nance provides a thorough overview of ISIS's origins, and in doing so pulls no punches. He stresses that there would be no ISIS if the United States had not invaded Iraq. During U.S operations in Iraq, ISIS started out as Al Quaeda in Iraq. The U.S. invasion handed Osama bin Laden a golden opportunity. The invasion of Iraq opened up a new front in a fledgling Al Quaeda's war against the U.S. It turned an entire country into a Jihadist playground, attracting foreign fighters, hopped up on Jihadist ideology, from around the world. This, according to Nance, was Osama bin Laden's primary goal. American occupation of a Muslim nation fulfilled his desire to pit Jihadists against Western troops, while drawing the Muslim world into Al Quaeda's camp.Al Quaeda received far less support from Muslims than it had anticipated. Instead, an Al Quaeda on steroids, called ISIS took shape in the searing crucible of Iraq. In his coverage of ISIS, Nance includes affiliate groups that placed themselves under the ISIS banner: Boko Haram being one of the most notorious examples. He provides a detailed analysis of ISIS's every aspect: military capability, operations, weaponry, finances, media, command structure, etc. ISIS atrocities are examined in full, disturbing detail. Nance explains how, despite its unfettered savagery, ISIS continues to attract recruits. Certainly, the group draws those who wish to live in an idealized Islamic society, a Caliphate. But psychopaths, attracted to the prospect of immense bloodletting also manage to find themselves in ISIS occupied territory.Nance makes it clear that formidable as ISIS has been, it can be defeated. His playbook for eradicating the organization is a detailed step by step process. He acknowledges that ISIS has been a dealt heavy blow in the current U.S. led effort, but outlines a strategy that could inflict much greater damage. It is a strategy entailing deep cover operations, disrupting enemy supply lines and the implementation of general all out mayhem designed to send ISIS reeling off balance, snatching it out of its usual offensive mindset and putting it squarely on the defensive. The strategy is every bit as ruthless as the enemy it is set against.Nance's analysis of ISIS comprises the strongest parts of the book. His military experience as well as extensive terrorism-counterterrorism knowledge injects his presentation with a powerful does of credibility. But he treads shaky ground when he touches upon history. He rightly points out ISIS's sheer bloody-mindedness, but seems to suggest that its violence is anomalous to Islamic history. The expansion of Islam in history, from the Umayyads to the Ottomans, was often accompanied by the same abhorrent methods ISIS employs today: massacres, enslavement, aggressive warfare, the deaths and subjugation of non-believers and so-called apostates, the wholesale destruction and desecration of non-Islamic sites, and the brutal repression of Muslims not in alignment with ISIS's strict Salafist interpretation of Islam.Currently, Muslim imperialism is no longer a state enterprise. Instead, current imperialist impulses are manifested in non-state entities such as ISIS and Al Quaeda. These group have grand aspirations but not nearly the capability to impose the type of dominance over vast territories that the great Muslim empires of the past possessed. Other than that historical misstep, Defeating ISIS is an engrossing read as well as a authoritative guide book that should be pored over by Pentagon generals...if they aren't doing so already.

I consider this one of the most important books of the 21st century. The scholarship is mind-blowing in its depth. Nance not only goes through all the historical evolution of ISIS and its structure but its operational techniques. I found the section on ISIS use of the media particularly prescient in terms of the psychological as well as the technical aspects of their campaign.Most interesting is the final section of this work wherein Nance goes beyond military victory to propose a Middle-East Marshal-Plan to rebuild Syria for a democratic future. The plan is wonderfully thorough and filled with optimism. I so hope that Nance is right and the powers that be will come together, do the right thing and make it a reality. My greatest fear is that when the fighting ends, Nance will be confronted by the same situation faced by T.E. Lawrence at the end of World War One -- that arabs tend to fight rather than cooperate..

It's sad that Trump and his people can't read. This book puts Trump and his followers in their place ! For the rest of us, it is a must read. It tells us of the origin of ISIL, their strengths and weaknesses and our appropriate responses. (Trump doesn't know more than our generals lol) WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS AND THIS BOOK MEETS THE DEMANDS REQUIRED IN UNDERSTANDING OUR CHALLENGE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERY CITIZEN READ AND UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS PRESENTED IN THIS MATURE AND WELL WRITTEN BOOK!

This book was frightening in its detailed explanation of the ISIS cult and their aims. But after scaring me half to death, I was grateful to see the authors offered detailed plans to address this danger. Anyone who wants to understand more about what's going on in the Middle East should read this book. It's going to take a massive education effort to get people to understand that ISIS is not Islam and to implement the part of the plan related to social media and how we partner with people of all faiths to support Muslims in defeating this evil cult. Thank you for your work. I pray you get support and action to move forward in putting the plans into action.