The Islamic State: who are they & why are they so threatening

Before I can begin to discuss how the youth of the Middle East are taking a stand against oppressive regimes and are trying to save their countries, there is one massive and terrifying terrorist group taking hold country-wide in the Middle East: the Islamic State.

radical assholes

They are not confined to any alone country but they pose a threat to all, particularly Iraq and Syria. Also know as ISIS  (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant), their origins begin when they broke off from al Qaeda, the terrorist group known for the 9/11 attacks on New York.  Unfortunately the group has already gained control of hundreds of square miles in hopes of create an actual sovereign state across Sunni areas.

The deep red shows how much ISIS has taken control of.

Al-Khalifah Ibrahim (he renamed himself after establishing the Islamic State) leads and encourages violent displays of his soldiers against the people they conquer. The group has been known for their disgusting behavior; including mass killings, public executions, crucifixions and more. The Islamic State has been catching the attention of the West more severely after its recent beheadings of European and American journalists… and posting recordings of the acts online. It’s been horrific that innocents have to deal with this boogie man around the corner, but one thing is for sure: the Islamic State needs to be dealt with and it’s going to be a hard problem to fix.