Articles from Databases and Websites
Articles
- Where America's Terrorists Actually Come FromSyrian refugees have committed zero attacks in the United States.
- To defeat terrorists we have to get inside their mindsWe must steer away from ill-informed rhetoric. Knowing terrorists’ life stories can be key to countering their warped justification for taking up arms
- Media coverage of terrorism ‘leads to further violence’Clear link claimed between reports of atrocities and follow-up attacks
Background Article
The contentious political and religious atmosphere of the Middle East has long been a breeding ground for extremist groups. One of the most notorious of these is the Islamic State (ISIS), a militant organization that rose to power in Iraq and Syria in 2013. The sworn goal of ISIS is to form a religious state, dominated by the strict laws of fundamentalist Islam. To accomplish this, ISIS uses tactics of intimidation, such as destruction of holy sites and artifacts from other religions, mass killings, and public executions posted on social media.
Since its formation, ISIS has captured several strategic cities in Iraq and large areas in neighboring Syria. The group has proven popular with foreign-born fighters who have traveled to the region to join what they see as a call to restore God’s rule on Earth and defend Islam from non-believers. The quick spread of ISIS and the savagery of its methods have alarmed many foreign governments. Military forces from many nations have carried out airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria.
Questions and Claims
Questions to Consider about ISIL / ISIS
- Should the U.S.have bombed Syria?
- What can be done to decrease the number of people who commit terrorism?
- What causes terrorism?
- Are we doing a good job of fighting terrorism?
- Who should be leading the fight against terrorism?
- Should the U.S. and other countries remove troops and focus on humanitarian aid for refugees?
- Should the U.S. and other countries send more troops to fight terrorism?
- Should a larger multinational coalition of countries be formed to combat terrorism groups?
iraq and syria
- Iraq war map: Who controls whatAs fighting in parts of Iraq intensifies, a visual breakdown of the control of territory after years of war.
- Syrian Civil War MapA map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after five years of fighting.
Databases
Databases
- Gale Global Issues in Context This link opens in a new window
- New York Times This link opens in a new window
- Gale Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window