Intelligence Squared

Iraq: 20 Years On | ISIS, Terror and Extremism

Mar 23, 2023
Secunder Kermani leads a compelling discussion with Lina Khatib, who analyzes the Iraq War's impact on extremism, Joby Warrick, revealing the rise of ISIS in his Pulitzer-winning insights, and Tam Hussein, who delves into the narratives of jihadist foreign fighters. They explore how the Iraq War fueled terror and sectarian violence, the connections between Al-Qaeda and ISIS, and the radicalization processes affecting communities in the West and the Middle East. This engaging dialogue highlights the complex legacy of conflict that continues to shape global security.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Rise of Extremism

  • The Iraq War became about Islamist jihadist extremism due to the US invasion.
  • The Sunni community, viewed as Saddam Hussein's allies, faced discrimination and sidelining, pushing some towards extremism.
INSIGHT

Evolution of Insurgency

  • The insurgency in Iraq evolved from nationalist to jihadist due to a marriage of convenience.
  • Dispossessed Sunnis and foreign jihadists like Zarqawi allied, exploiting the security vacuum.
INSIGHT

Sectarian Tensions

  • Sectarian tensions in Iraq existed before, but were inflamed by the US invasion and extremist rhetoric.
  • Al-Zarqawi’s language stoked the conflict, turning a political issue into a sectarian one.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app