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UCMUN 2017 Disarmament and International Security Committee

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the UCMUN XIX conference! My name is Emilyn Tuomala, the director for

the Disarmament and International Security Committee. I hope you are all as excited as I am to

spend a weekend exploring the world’s challenges. As soon as last year’s conference concluded

we began preparatory measures for this year, constantly striving to make this the best conference

yet. I am lucky to be both the director of the DISEC committee and Assistant Director-General,

meaning I am twice as proud of all the preparation done by countless individuals and twice as

excited to welcome you all to the University of Connecticut.

The topics for DISEC committee this year are A: “Combatting the Weapons Black

Market” and B: “Lessons from ISIS”. I chose these topics because they are so broad and

challenging. How can we introduce measures to fight the black market? How can we eradicate

radical Islamic militant organizations and learn to spot the signs of their formation? As opposed

to other committees such as the International Court of Justice, where there are clear ‘guilty’ or

‘not guilty’ verdicts, these two topics are not black and white. There are no clear solutions,

similar to how it is in the UN General Assembly.

Hopefully our committee sessions will prove to be a challenge to even the most seasoned

of delegates. You will be tested on your abilities to think outside of the box and approach these

topics from many different angles, some of which may disagree with your own. That is,

however, part of the fun.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at [email protected].

See you soon!

Emilyn Tuomala UCMUN 2017 DISEC Director [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Committee History:

Since her chartering on 24 October 1945, the United Nations has served as a powerful

international organization dedicated to promoting both wellbeing and safety for the world’s

citizenry; there is no better representation this than the Disarmament and International Security

Committee (DISEC).

DISEC’s role is to advise delegations and the United Nations Security Council on matters

of arms reduction and threats to peace worldwide. Frequently referred to as the First Committee,

DISEC and her responsibilities are based on Article 11, Chapter V of the UN Charter (Model UN

Research).

The UN charter states,“ The General Assembly may consider the general principles of

cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles

governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with

regard to such principles to the Members or to the Security Council or to both,” (UN Charter).

Notice that the charter does not call for the creation of a separate body to promote this mission;

this is because DISEC does not have an official charter or list of duties. Instead, DISEC consists

of all member states within the General Assembly, and the First Committee is the space and

avenue allotted for member states to discuss issues listed above. DISEC differs from the Security

Council by way of her inability to condemn states or their actions, and is simply limited to

finding solutions and providing input for the General Assembly as a whole.

DISEC’s first resolution was entitled “Establishment of a Commission to Deal with the

Problems Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy,” and was passed in 1946 after the

dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.


The current agenda for the 70th session of DISEC and the UN includes the diamond

conflict in fuel-rich areas, “Armed Israeli aggression against the Iraqi nuclear installations” and

discovering new effects of atomic radiation (70th Session Agenda).


Works Cited:

"Chapter V." United Nations. United Nations, 24 Oct. 1945. Web. 04 Feb. 2017.

"United Nations Official Document: 70th Session Agenda." United Nations. United

Nations, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017.

"Model UN Research: GA First Committee – DISEC." Best Delegate. N.p., 16 Mar.

2015. Web. 04 Feb. 2017.


Committee Simulation:

The Role of the Delegates

A successful conference cannot take place without active and participatory delegates.

Participation in committee is essential and takes the form of engaged, persuasive debate with

other delegates through informed speech and writing. Delegates are expected to have thoroughly

and accurately researched the position of their respective country ahead of time; knowledge of

current refugee policy is most important but must be accompanied by an understanding of bloc

positions, history, and cultural ideologies. As such, any resolution that is passed by the

committee must be representative of the positions of the countries sponsoring it.

Background research is clearly not only crucial for a realistic debate but for a successful

committee. Delegates should keep in mind, however, that drafting a resolution is not a simple

process, requiring extensive negotiation and structured arguments. Of course, other complicating

factors such as political alliances, social and cultural viewpoints, and funding make the writing

of resolutions even more challenging. Like any form of negotiation, an impressive debate must

draw on compromise and a wide range of knowledge, skills that any accomplished delegate

needs.

That being said, there are rules within this committee and the conference as a whole that

must be followed. While proper parliamentary procedure and decorum must be maintained

throughout all committee sessions, it is even more important that delegates have respect for

themselves, those around them, the staff, and the international issues at hand. Following these

rules will make UCMUN more enjoyable for everyone, especially as a learning conference. This


conference is supposed to be fun, and it will be as long as delegates act appropriately and

respectfully.

The Role of the Dias

The Director and the Assistant Directors will form the Dias. They are obligated to

maintain a structured, appropriate debate; they will accomplish this by establishing and keeping

committee rules as well as ensuring delegate participation. More specifically, the Dais is

responsible for setting debate, ending debate, and voting procedure. All members of the Dais are

also available as a resource that delegates may approach with any questions regarding

parliamentary procedure, the topics being discussed, or the conference in general.


Topic A: Black Market Arms Trading in the 21st Century Introduction:

War is an unfortunate everyday risk in the modern world. With globalization and ties

closer than ever between countries, armed conflict in one region of the world can quickly

transition into the realm of another. Part of this globalization can be attributed to the growth of

technology from the 20th century to the year 2017; however, with rapid growth and development

the margin of error and possibility of unforeseen consequences and risks rises as well.

Arms control, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the “ limitation of the

use, exchange, or manufacture of military weapons by nations often as a policy established

through diplomatic negotiation.”(Merriam-Webster) This aspect of foreign policy arose after

World War II and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the catalyst which began the

notorious arms race and Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Tactical

nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles and other forms of weaponry were created by

scientists and militaries hoping to outperform one another, each time running the risk of potential

war. Many historians equate the discovery of nuclear energy to opening Pandora’s box, making

the argument that nothing beneficial has come from the development of these weapons. As it

stands only nine countries currently have recognized legal nuclear weapons, possessing an

amount totaling around fifteen thousand missiles (ICAN) . Former President Obama encouraged

the initiative of Global Zero and New START, a large step in limiting nuclear weapons.

Independent of nuclear arms, the weapons market and trade is a multibillion-dollar

industry. Companies like Lockheed-Martin, Boeing and BAE Systems hold a majority of the

market but often encounter challenges posed by the international black market and rise of


trafficking.

While discussing this topic, it will be vital to look at the world through the lens of

globalization while acknowledging the need for international security policies. The agenda for

the Disarmament and International Security Committee for this session will be to discuss and

propose new, effective ways to reduce the arsenal of nuclear weapons and the number of arms on

the black market.

(Range 365)

History and Description of the Issue:

As mentioned above, the start of the arms industry as we know it today can be traced

directly back to the Little Boy and Fat Boy bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during

the August of 1945. The world was forever changed as a result. The United States had set a

precedent for the type of weaponry able to be used on an enemy; the constraints of what military

and government actions could be considered orthodox in the name of national security changed


as well. The Cold War began once Russia exploded her first atomic bomb a few years later on 29

August 1949. The ensuing battle for nuclear supremacy laid the framework for the next forty

years, where terms like mutually assured destruction (MAD) and deterrence were passed back

and forth between the two countries.

Not long after the end of World War II, the need for an international body dedicated to

arms limitation and regulation was recognized. Articles 11 and 26 of the United Nations charter

already provided for the creation of the Security Council and the maintenance of international

peace (Chapter V, United Nations) but in 1946 the General Assembly called for more regulatory

bodies, hence the creation of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission

(UNAEC)(Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization).

(Restricted Data)


This organization entertained discussion on several propositions that would effectively

rid the world of nuclear weapons, the Acheson-Lilienthal Report and the Gromyko Plan being

two of the most notable. Both called for inspections to ensure the agreed upon quotas of nuclear

material were upheld, the Acheson-Lilienthal specifically outlining measures for the spread of

atomic energy by a separate international agency. However, the discussions encountered

problems when weaponry was involved. The Gromyko Plan was the Soviet response to the

Baruch Plan, also of 1946. Baruch called for the elimination of all nuclear weapons with

inspections performed by the United Nations (Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization).

The Soviet Union felt the United States wielded too much influence over the UN and therefore

wanted complete disarmament but by an agency of their choice. Postwar tensions unfortunately

held too great a role in the proceedings and the possibility of eliminating nuclear weapons soon

died. “In the absence of guaranteed verification—the process whereby participants in a treaty

monitor each other's adherence to the agreement—neither side could disarm without making

itself vulnerable to cheating by the other side. The goal of the superpowers and other nations

possessing nuclear weapons therefore became not total elimination of those weapons, but control

of them so that a stable nuclear deterrent might be maintained.” (Free Dictionary)

Nuclear triads became the standard for conventional weapons, meaning countries had

land, air and sea missile strike capabilities. These new technologies continued developing and

countries such as France, the United Kingdom and China began possessing nuclear capabilities.

It was not until the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty that large strides were made towards limiting

arms. The Non-Proliferation Treaty resolved to ban non-nuclear states from ever attaining


nuclear weapons, although nuclear energy was allowed. Also, states that possessed nuclear

weapons at the time had to promise cooperation in the future to both disarm and ensure the

weapons technologies would never be spread.

(Quora)

Current Status:

As seen in the graph above, not all countries that were once signatories of the Nuclear

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remained as such. Furthermore, world powers such as Israel and

India have not even joined into the Treaty. When discussing the existence of the arms black


market, most importantly the renegade sales of nuclear materials, it is important to first

understand what institutions are in place to currently limit the the possibility of weapons in the

hands of nations lacking substantial cause.

North Korea has been the most unstable of all NPT signatories, first joining the NPT on

12 December 1985 yet refusing to submit to an inspection by the International Atomic Energy

Agency. Such an inspection finally did occur, but the results could not be fully verified due to

suspicion about hidden nuclear facilities. This limelight around North Korea’s nuclear program,

even after the signing of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula on 31 December 1991, led

to continuous North Korean threats to withdraw from the treaty altogether. 1994 led to the

creation of the Agreed Framework, a mutually beneficial agreement stating the United States

would provide financial aid and other humanitarian support in exchange for North Korea

abandoning nuclear weapons development. Upon the Framework’s expiration, North Korea

announced in 2003 that it has officially dropped out of the NPT and would resume the build-up

of both its conventional weapon and nuclear weapon programme. (Arms Control Association)

Other countries, such as India and Pakistan, have refused to join, citing their needs to have

pre-emptive strike capabilities at each other as a reason to remain non-signatories.

In light of these concerns, working towards more overall safety in weapons development

is of dire importance. The P5+1 countries and Iran recently negotiated the Joint Comprehensive

Plan of Action, in which Iran agreed to limit its number of centrifuges (devices used to enrich

uranium to weapons’ level) and halt its research and development program for at least eight

years (JCPOA). Iran gained the technology for its weapons programme through the extensive

black market network that existed under Abdul Qadeer Khan, a perfect example of the risk such


dealings bring to international security.

Born 1 April 1936, Abdul Qadeer Khan is a Pakistani nuclear engineer and the father of

the Pakistani nuclear programme.

(Melville)

Upon receiving a degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Leuven,

Kahn was contracted to work with a subsidiary of Ultra Centrifuge Nederland and was almost

immediately put under surveillance by Dutch intelligence for arousing suspicion as to his

curiosity in weapons development; in 1975 “Khan suddenly leaves... for Pakistan with copied

blueprints for centrifuges and other components and contact information for nearly 100

companies that supply centrifuge components and materials.” (New York Times). Khan was

given full responsibility over Pakistan’s nuclear division and it was soon discovered that Khan

provided Iran with P-1 centrifuges and training for Iranian nuclear scientists within Pakistan’s

borders. A black market focused on the sale of arms is not only dangerous because of the actual

transactions of arms, but also because of the public spread of sensitive need-to-know only

technology. The AQ Khan network is responsible for online videos describing the processes of

building a nuclear weapon, breaking the secrecy that nuclear development in a secure world

requires.


Before the fall of Soviet Russia, the black market was an integral part of weapons transfer

in between East and West Germany, and all other (now) countries that were located behind the

Iron Curtain. However, “thanks to the collapse of communism, black market supplies are more

plentiful and cheaper than newly produced weapons” (Grant). Traders like AQ Khan pale in

comparison to tacticians such as Viktor Bout, a recently convicted Soviet military officer who

profited heavily from the fall of the Soviet Union, as he gained access to various Cold War-era

planes that Bout then sold to African militant groups, trading heavily with warlords in both

Liberia and Angola (Grant).

(Our Reporter)

Arms sales in general have

risen to a level in 2016 and

2017 that is equivalent to

the market during the Cold

War peak period, a reality

that is troubling to

government officials

worldwide (Sharkov).The United States and Russia have maintained their positions as the two

largest producers however, with the United States alone providing 33% of sales overall to

countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iraq (Marlow). With such a dependence on

weaponry to keep the world safe, it is vital that this committee searches for a way to secure all

weapons and keep such technology out of the hands of those unregulated and uncertified to trade

in the best interests of international security. For example, “Boko Haram funds its escalating acts


of terror through black market dealings, local and international benefactors, and links to

al-Qa’ida and other well-funded groups in the Middle East,” (McCoy) It is these vast networks

providing for organizations of violence and human rights violations that must be stopped.

Bloc Positions:

United States:

As the largest supplier of arms worldwide, the United States is placed in a unique

position. While remaining committed to ensuring safety for Americans and the world from

various militant and radical threats, 57% of international transactions are from U.S. based

companies such as Lockheed-Martin that are also responsible for $210B of the $371B total sales

worldwide (Soergel)

President Obama spoke in 2009 during his Prague speech of a world one day free of all

nuclear weapons, a world that was safer overall and that the United States, as the only country to

have ever used a nuclear weapon, was committed to creating. Preventing the use of Weapons of

Mass Destruction is undoubtedly at the forefront of America’s foreign policy, as shown by

President Trump authorizing missile strikes against Syrian airfields in response to the use of

chemical weapons by Assad, as well as the hard-line stance against North Korea and the

development of their programme. It is also in the interests of the United States to prevent

weapons in the hands of militants like Boko Haram and ISIS. Domestic efforts for arms control

have also increased, an example of which being the strengthening of the border between Mexico

and the U.S. to prevent weapons trafficking.


Russia:

Russia currently maintains the position of being the second largest arms exporter in the

world, as well as a nuclear power. The countries of Iran and India both benefit heavily from

Russia’s willingness to trade technologies and other facets of the defense industry, actions which

deepen Russia’s involvement in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Earlier in 2017 plans were

made for a large Russian shipment of uranium to Iran in exchange for Iran ridding itself of

several tonnes of centrifuge coolant, a necessary material for enriching uranium to weapons

grade level (Fox News). This exchange is in light of the JCPOA treaty, an agreement which

Russia is highly in favor of and has threatened action over if there were attempts to amend the

treaty. Russia is also in the midst of negotiating a $10B weapons technology sale to Iran that

includes the S-300 missile system, a high-grade conventional weapon (Oliphant). Russia

currently backs the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria as well, a regime currently accused of using

chemical weapons against members of the civilian population.

India is in the process of receiving air defense missiles, an Akula nuclear submarine and

other naval vessels from Russia as part of a $6B arms deal. The negotiations were known

worldwide, a symbol of growing transparency within the Russian government and the defense

sector.

India:

India remains the largest importer of foreign arms in the world, but their black market for

handguns and ammunition still grows. “Guns, ammunition, tools, parts, components are all under

tight legislative control. The result: a thriving black market in clandestine guns, mostly


handmade. Powder is scavenged from ammunition purchased or stolen on the black market.

Shotgun and rifle cartridges are converted to handgun ammunition” (Truth About Guns)- reasons

for the need for personal firearms can be attributed to poverty rates in India and crime rates,

where the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported India is the second highest in the

world for violent murders (Nation Master).

The aforementioned influx of arms from Russia is a symbol of India’s determination to

strengthen both their borders and flex their might against the bordering nation of Pakistan, which

India has been locked in a tense, potentially nuclear conflict with for over half a century. India is

currently considering revamping their nuclear policy; “This would not formally change India’s

nuclear doctrine, which bars it from launching a first strike, but would loosen its interpretation to

deem pre-emptive strikes as defensive,”(Fisher, New York Times). Ambiguity of language is

often used by countries when forming nuclear policy, a form of gentle deterrence against other

countries threatening to strike.

Questions to Consider:

1. Given the outline above of the current international arms climate and your own

research, is it possible to say the proliferation of weaponry leads to a safer world

overall?

2. What are the dangers of a black market devoted to weapons technologies?

3. What are the effects of globalization and trade on a market system, specifically

the weapons industry?

4. Consider the role nuclear capabilities play on the world stage- Should


international bodies like DISEC and the IAEA take responsibility to limit the

development of technologies and work to expunge nuclear weapons as a whole?

5. If you think this is a worthwhile cause, how can countries work together to

prevent further growth of the arms industry? How can they battle any losses

economically? What are the benefits of a large arms industry and government

sales?


Works Cited

"Arms Control." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

I chose to define arms control in my introduction using the Merriam-Webster dictionary

because of the strong reputation the dictionary possesses. A definition from a dictionary

is more precise than one that I would create as my own.

"Arms Control and Disarmament." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

The quote used above from the Free Dictionary describes the initial steps of arms control

as it relates to mutually assured deterrence, a slightly different form of deterrence than is

used in today’s world.

"Black Market Guns." Range365. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

It was my intention that by providing a picture of a weapons pile purchased via the black

market laying on the ground, it will help to demonstrate the severity of the black market

situation and highlight the sheer quantity of renegade ammunition and guns that are

available.

Burdick, Kelly. "A. Q. Khan: Father of the Pakistani bomb, spy, and blogger » MobyLives."


Melville House Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

This source, the TIME magazine cover of AQ Khan, was chosen to show how influential

of a character Abdul Qadeer Khan on this committee’s selected topic.

"Chapter V." United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

The charter of the United Nations is undoubtedly a legitimate source, and Chapter V

provides the background for how international organizations and councils dedicated to

the preservation of international security were created, in this instance the Security

Council within the United Nations.

"Chronology: A.Q. Khan." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Apr. 2006. Web. 19

May 2017.

This source was used to give background information on AQ Khan, important for

understanding how he built his empire.

"Fact Sheets & Briefs." Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy |

Arms Control Association. N.p., Apr. 2017. Web. 19 May 2017.

The Arms Control Association is a remarkable source I often utilize in my research

regarding nuclear policy. The chronology of U.S-North Korean relations on this issue

was vital to describing the history of the matter.

Fisher, Max. "India, Long at Odds With Pakistan, May Be Rethinking Nuclear First Strikes." The


New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 19 May 2017.

The New York Times, although a relatively biased source, often provides well researched

news articles and stories about current issues in the world. This source was selected to

provide background for India’s bloc position and show India’s supposed shift to a

first-strike policy.

Grant, Jonathan. ""Merchants of Death": The International Traffic in Arms | Origins: Current

Events in Historical Perspective." "Merchants of Death": The International Traffic in Arms |

Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective. N.p., Dec. 2012. Web.

This source provided background details about the actions of Viktor Bout, a weapons

dealer with which few are familiar. However, I wish the article provided a more general

scope of the weapons black market instead of focusing mainly on a sole individual.

"India vs United States Crime Stats Compared." NationMaster.com. NationMaster, n.d. Web. 19

May 2017.

Although this background guide is originally intended to be written from an unbiased

international point of view, as the main researcher I figured it would be most beneficial

to compare India’s statistics with those of the United States, as crime levels we are

accustomed to hearing in the news are easier to understand than pure statistics about

India.

"Iran set to receive huge shipment of natural uranium from Russia amid lawmakers' concerns."


Fox News. FOX News Network, 9 Jan. 2017. Web. 19 May 2017.

Fox News remains a consistently credible source, one that I find to be unbiased in a

majority of their written reports. I found it to be the same in this case.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Vienna (2015). Print.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is a heavily influential document when

discussing arms control, and was a monumental step towards heightening international

security and strengthening ties with Iran. It is without a doubt a credible source, as I

cited the official government document itself.

Marlow, Iain. "Global Arms Sales Hit Highest Level Since End of Cold War." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 20 Feb. 2017. Web.

There is an important distinction to be made between black market arms sales and

official public transactions between governments and countries. Marlow mentioned the

two when discussing global levels, an important part of this article.

McCoy, Terrence. "Paying for terrorism: Where does Boko Haram gets its money from?" The

Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 06 June 2014. Web. 19 May 2017.

It was vital to cite sources of a militant organization like Boko Haram when discussing

the dangers of black market arms deals, and McCoy masterfully wrote this piece with

that goal in mind.

"Nuclear arsenals." ICAN. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, n.d. Web. 19


May 2017.

As an official association dedicated to the abolition of nuclear weapons, ICAN is a

credible source and therefore was used as a source for determining the exact amount of

nuclear weapons that currently exist internationally.

Oliphant, Roland. "Russia may sell Iran $10 billion worth of tanks and jets in new arms deal." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 14 Nov. 2016. Web. 19 May 2017.

This source was used solely when creating the bloc position for Russia- it was important

to include information about this trade deal to understand which stance both Iran and

Russia are taking in the matter.

"Posts tagged "Non-proliferation" | Restricted Data." Restricted Data: The Nuclear Secrecy Blog. N.p., 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 May 2017.

No facts or quotations from this webpage were used, instead only the picture of the first

meeting of the UNAEC.

Reporter, Our. "Our Reporter." National Trail Newspapers. N.p., 11 Jan. 2017. Web. 19 May 2017.

As is the case for the cited source directly above this particular one, I relied on this

source simply as the owner of the photo of Boko Haram.

Soergel, Andrew. "America's Arms Exports Dominate Despite Global Competition." U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, 27 Dec. 2016. Web. 19 May 2017.

U.S. News has a history of being an honest reporting agency, and I used portions of this

article to describe America’s role within this topic and provide a basic foundation for the

structure of the sales network in place.


Sharkov, Damien. "Global arms deals are returning to the high levels of the post Cold War peak." Newsweek. N.p., 20 Feb. 2017. Web.

Similar to the article by Ian Marlow from Bloomberg, it is important to hold the fact sale

levels are so high in high regard when discussing this issue. Newsweek is a reputable

source, I did not find this article to be biased in any way in the style of both writing and

reporting.

"THE TREATY: 1945-54." 1945-54: Early efforts to restrain nuclear testing: CTBTO

Preparatory Commission. Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization , n.d. Web. 19 May

2017.

From this source I was able to learn heavily about the Gromyko Plan, and as an official

organization there were no doubts as to the credibility of the facts on this page.

Weingarten, Dean. "Black Market Pistol Factory in India Reveals The Truth About Guns." The

Truth About Guns. N.p., 18 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 May 2017.

I am not sure as to the exact credibility of this source, so I was careful to not rely on

Weingarten for any statistics and instead use this article for the sole purpose of

demonstrating how black market guns are manufactured, along with various forms of

ammunition.

"Why haven't India and Pakistan signed NPT yet?" Quora, n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.

Although the title of this page on Quora may be misleading, this source was used solely

for the graphic showing which countries were members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation


Treaty on a world map.

Topic B: Lessons from ISIS

Introduction:

The radical militant organization known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or

the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has claimed responsibility for a slew of both

horrific and inhumane acts since the year 2010. Designated as a terrorist institution by countries

worldwide, the self-proclaimed Islamic State is heavily criticized for both its gruesome tactics

and desire to become a full-fledged nation, or caliphate. A recognized caliphate, meaning an area

or area ruled by a certain member or members of the Islamic faith, would place ISIS as the

reigning authority over all Muslims worldwide in their mind.

It is important to recognize, however, that most Muslims refuse to associate with

members of ISIS and have themselves fallen victim to the violent proceedings of the

organization. ISIS is a member of the Salafi Jihadism ideology, a movement dedicated to

returning to a fundamentalist form of Sunni Islam, and as a result many Shia, a minority religious

group in ISIS-controlled areas, have been labeled heretics and have been targeted in Iraq and

Iran, two predominantly Muslim countries (Dearden). Recent acquisitions by Iraqi-led,

U.S.-backed forces of territory once held by the Islamic State, including Fallujah and Abu

Ghraib, means that the dominion of the Islamic State is diminishing (Almukhtar). Coupled with

the strengthened offensive against Raqqa, Islamic State’s capital, and Mosul, it is possible to say

that the time of an actual land state held by ISIS is coming to an end. However, their increased

acts of terrorism abroad make the organization still a threat to be reckoned with. The Paris


shooting and Normandy church attack of last year are just two of the recent attacks for which

ISIS claims responsibility.

The importance of this topic for DISEC lies in the continued effort to fight terrorism

worldwide. Specifically: how to discuss and characterize terrorist organizations and militant

groups and understand how they are able to form, as well as develop a deeper understanding of

how they affect the world community as a whole.

Pictured above is a parade of ISIS militant members, a practice commonly used by similar

organizations to demonstrate strength and domination. (CNN)

History and Description of the Issue:

From the beginning of time, the Middle East has remained arguably the most turbulent

region of the world. The Middle East is home to the stories of Biblical Times, of Mesopotamia


and of the city of Babylon. It is also home to a religious identity that has always influenced

politics and the lives of all who lived in the region, the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity and

Islam. After the prophet Muhammad died in 632 AD, the search for who would be named his

successor was a complex process. Those who believed it should be his blood relative, Ali, were

called the Shia; those who believed it should be the most religious and devoted follower, Abu

Bakr, were called the Sunni. The term caliphate describes the four prophets that assumed

Muhammad’s role in the years that followed, often referred to as the Golden Age of Islam. A

caliphate also existed during the Ottoman Empire, a period of both prosperity and peace for the

Middle East that lasted until the year 1918 and the end of World War I (The Ottoman Empire).

At its height, the borders of the Ottoman Empire extended as far as Vienna to the Saudi Arabian

Peninsula. It is this area of control and power that the members of ISIS want to recreate in the

21st century.

Influences from other Middle Eastern terrorist groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda

also heavily guided the creation of the Islamic State. In the year 1988 a wealthy Saudi Arabian

named Osama bin Laden created the group known as al-Qaeda, notorious for their attacks on

American soil during 9/11. The center of al-Qaeda’s control was in Afghanistan, forcing them to

share space with the Taliban, a group that arose to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion in 1979.

Both groups had Sunni origins, both facets of the Salafi jihadism mentality defined above. Abu

Musab al-Zarqawi, however, is the actual creator of the organization now called the Islamic

State.


Al-Zarqawi was enthralled with the tactics of bin Laden and heavily dedicated to his same ideals,

a dedication which led his creation of the Iraq chapter of al-Qaeda in 2004. Giving a name to the

insurgency that he had already led in Iraq legitimized the terrorist group, but the Salafi ideals of

battling even Shia Muslims to restore Sunni

ideals soon lost him popularity among Iraqi

civilians. Zarqawi did not live long enough

to see his efforts grow, as he was killed by a

U.S airstrike in 2006 (John).

Abu Ayyub al-Masri soon replaced Zarqawi

as leader, and al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was

renamed the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI).

Al-Masri’s reign was short-lived however,

committing suicide during an attack from

the United States (John).

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi replaced al-Masri in

2014 and to this day is still at the helm of

ISIS. In 2013 ISI announced its plans to merge with

Jabhat al-Nusra, a similar organization located in Syria

and backed by bin Laden’s al-Qaeda (CNN). ISI renamed

itself الدولة اإلسالمیة “ في العراق والشام”, or Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Current Status- (2013 to Present):


One of the reasons why ISIS dominated discussions of security recently stemmed from

just how quickly the militancy rose to prominence. It is only during the last few years,

specifically from 2013 on, that the Islamic State expanded its territorial claims and increased its

levels of violence to the rate with which the group is associated.

(CNN)

(Fanack Chronicle)

The map above shows the territory controlled by ISIS at the height of their power, a stark

contrast to the map below of the Umayyad caliphate during the Golden Age of Islam. The

difference between the two is the lack of support from many Muslims for ISIS, as many Shia are


as targeted as Western civilians. During the Umayyad caliphate there was a system of unified

ruling was through local systems. The Tanzimat reforms in the 1800s, when the caliphates began

to diminish, ushered in a new system of religious tolerance that was previously unknown.

A recent Pew research poll showed that in

overwhelmingly Muslim countries ISIS is still

viewed negatively by the overwhelming majority

of citizens. For example, 100% of polled

Lebanese Muslims looked unfavorably down on

ISIS, similar to 94% in Jordan and 84% in

Palestinian territory (Lipka). This can be attributed to the tactics used by ISIS members, often

including measures so psychologically scarring that the minds of prisoners are permanently

altered. Newsweek labeled ISIS members as sadists, or those that derive pleasure from seeing

others tortured. These methods of torture include, but are not limited to: electric shocks,

beheading (as seen with the video of Steven Sotloff’s death and similar execution of David

Haines, a British humanitarian worker), firing squads, hanging prisoners by their wrists until

their joints are stiff and there are signs of mental disability, placing metal jaws around women

who do not follow the ISIS dress code and placing prisoners in a metal hinge and bending them

until there are permanent rib and spinal fractures (Newsweek).

The center of ISIS’ control is currently in Syria, as the civil war happening in the country

is a perfect opportunity for an outside organization such as ISIS to develop a base. As mentioned

above, ISI (Islamic State in Iraq) combined with the al-Nusra front in Syria in 2013 to become

ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). ISIS slowly fought for control of key areas of Syria,


eventually gaining full control of Raqqa, a city located in the northern region of the country. This

partnership with the al-Nusra front was short lived however, as the al-Nusra organization had the

backing of al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda cut all ties with ISIS in Syria in February 2014. Al Qaeda’s

leader Ayman al-Zawahiri “cited the importance of “consultation” and “teamwork,” qualities that

ISIS has ignored in its aggressive expansion across northern Syria since it announced its

formation” (Sly).

Later in June 2014 ISIS captured the city of Mosul, a center of schooling and culture in

Iraq. Mosul is home to the Umayyad Mosque and the University of Mosul, both landmarks that

have been heavily damaged since ISIS gained control of the city. Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi

Arabia, the Untied Arab Emirates and the United States all launched air strikes against ISIS

strongholds in Syria in September 2014, marking the “first coalition military action by regional

powers since the 1991 Gulf War” (John).

By then the ‘caliphate’, still under the direction of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had grown its

sphere of influence to include regions in Yemen, Libya and Algeria. In March 2015 members of

ISIS raided a Libyan oil field and killed the guards, abducting 9 foreigners that were on the

premises. Boko Haram pledged their allegiance to ISIS not long after. Videos of beheadings and

executions still continued; ISIS was also responsible for at least fifty-five thousand civilian

deaths by 2015, the U.N. reports (Jamieson). This death toll rose as ISIS captured the city of

Palmyra, Syria, an act that worried many due to its being a UNESCO heritage site.

Bloc Positions:


Syria and Iraq, the countries in which ISIS maintains its largest strongholds, arguably

remain the most important countries in fighting against the militancy. Earlier in 2017 the Russian

government publicly rebuked the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for the support of air

strikes against the Assad regime, as the Assad regime played a key role in fighting against ISIS

strongholds in Syria. There is no simple solution to ending ISIS’ existence, as the United States

is hesitant to support Bashar al-Assad in light of accusations Assad used chemical weapons on

his own citizenry during the Syrian civil war. The relationship between the United States and

Syria in fighting ISIS was further complicated when in April, a U.S. airstrike on an ISIS

stronghold in Syria killed members of the Syrian coalition allied with the U.S. in the region.

During that same month the United States released the “Mother-of-all-bombs” on an Afghani

cave believed to be a staging point for ISIS members. President Donald Trump has vowed to

destroy ISIS at all costs.

When discussing ISIS and its funding, the United Kingdom also plays a significant role.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the terror attack on the London Bridge, where

civilians were killed in a knife attack coupled with the driving of a van through a crowd. Pressure

was placed on Theresa May, the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to then publish a

report from her Home Office that would raise speculation as to if Saudi Arabia were funding

ISIS. ISIS has also claimed to be the source of the Paris, Brussels and Pulse nightclub terror

attacks, all events which strengthened the resolve of Western democracies to destroy the Islamic

State.

Other countries to focus on are: Turkey, Iran, France and Saudi Arabia.

Questions to Consider:


1. How does the rise of militant organizations affect innocents in the region? How many

peoples are displaced per year from such violence and fighting?

2. Even if your country has not been attacked directly by a terrorist organization, how can

terrorism in another country affect your own?

3. Perform your own research on the mentality of ISIS members and their motivations- why

do they feel so strongly about their cause? How do such strong feelings contribute to

dedication towards a cause? There is no right answer, simply reflect and incorporate your

opinion into your preparation for debate.

4. What similarities do terrorist organizations share? Is there a pattern world leaders can use

to predict their formation?

5. Connect your research for Topic A with Topic B. Is ISIS a recipient of black market arms

deals?


Works Cited:

"Abu Musab al-Zarqawi." Wikipedia, n.d. Web.

I used this source simply to find a picture of al-Zarqawi.

"The Arab conquest." Fanack Chronicle. N.p., 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

The map of the Umayyad caliphate in my research above was from this website.

Dearden, Lizzie. "Donald Trump immigration ban: Most Isis victims are Muslims despite

President's planned exemption for Christians." The Independent. Independent Digital News and

Media, 28 Jan. 2017. Web. 07 Aug. 2017.

Dearden discussed the differences in ideologies between members of ISIS and moderate

Sunni/Shia Muslims.

"ISIS Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Apr. 2017. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

I found this to be helpful in creating a timeline of ISIS and its creation. I also used this

source for pictures of the ISIS militia parading in the streets.


Jamieson, Alastair. "ISIS Death Toll: 18,800 Killed in Iraq in 2 Years, U.N. Says."

NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

Chosen for Jamieson’s reporting on how many civilians have been killed as a result of

fighting .

John, Tara. "ISIS: Timeline of the Rise of the Islamic State." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 08 Aug.

2017.

TIME magazine is a very well-known source internationally, so it was only to be

expected that this was one of the most comprehensive timelines for piecing together the

history of ISIS that I found.

Lipka, Michael. "Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world." Pew

Research Center. N.p., 26 May 2017. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

The Pew Research Center is often used as a reputable source, and this specific article

and polls were very helpful in demonstrating how strongly Muslim countries feel about

eradicating ISIS from within their borders.

"The Ottoman Empire." Collapse of the Ottoman Empire, 1918-1920 - The Ottoman Empire |

NZHistory, New Zealand history online. New Zealand History, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Aug.

2017.


This is an official website about the history of New Zealand. One might not expect a

section on the Ottoman Empire to be found within, but a portion of the history was

dedicated to the World Wars and the changes that happened once they both concluded.

Sarah Almukhtar, Tim Wallace and Derek Watkins. "ISIS Has Lost Many of the Key Places It

Once Controlled." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 June 2016. Web. 07 Aug.

2017.

The New York Times is consistently known as a reputable source.

Silently, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered. "Not for the faint-hearted: How ISIS tortures its

opponents." Newsweek. N.p., 14 July 2016. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

Although this Newsweek article was listed as an opinion piece, I reasoned that an

opinion piece on the torture performed by members of the ISIS militancy would prove just

as effective, if not more so, than a report from an official site. The writing style used

within this source seemed emotional, motivated perhaps by the author’s first-hand

account of the described torture styles.

Sly, Liz. "Al-Qaeda backs away from radical fighters in Syria, Iraq." The Washington Post. WP

Company, 03 Feb. 2014. Web. 08 Aug. 2017.

Cited for a quote of why al-Qaeda backed away from supporting the Islamic State.

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