Wikipedia

Defeating ISIS

Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believeis a non-fiction book aboutcounterterrorismagainstISIS.It was written byMalcolm Nance,a formercryptology analyst,with a foreword byRichard Engel.Its thesis is that ISIS is not part ofIslam,instead, it functions as a separate destructive extremist group. He emphasizes the fact that the majority of those who have been harmed by ISIS are themselves Muslim. The book traces the history of the movement back to the history ofAl-Qaeda in Iraq,and it also discusses ISIS's combat style and recruiting tactics. Nance offers a four-point plan to defeat ISIS, including airpower and special forces, Internet tactics, strengthening theSyrian military,and engagingArab worldstates.[1][2]

Defeating ISIS
Defeating ISIS
Defeating ISIS
AuthorMalcolm Nance
Richard Engel(foreword)
LanguageEnglish
SubjectIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIS)
GenreCounterterrorism
PublisherSkyhorse Publishing
Publication date
2016
Publication placeUnited States
Media typeHardcover
Pages544
ISBN978-1510711846
OCLC980515128
Preceded byThe Terrorists of Iraq
Followed byThe Plot to Hack America
WebsiteOfficial website
[1][2]

Synopsis

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Defeating ISISargues that the groupISISdoes not belong to the faith ofIslam,and should instead be thought of as a separate destructive extremist group. The work is organized into four sections. The author provides historical context for the evolution of ISIS over time. The book emphasizes that the majority of ISIS's victims are Muslim. He argues that ISIS is attempting to annihilate Islam itself, and instead replace it with its own more inhumane practices.[1][2][3]

Nance ties the history of ISIS back to changing developments withinAl-Qaeda.Nance ascribes growth of influence by ISIS directly to problems within U.S. leadership related to combatingAl-Qaeda in Iraq.He provides an overview of ISIS management, soldiers, and command format.Defeating ISISprovides geographic descriptions of ISIS centers of influence globally, including Mali, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, and Jordan. Nance discusses cultural differences within each locality. He details the practices ofBoko Haram.He describes the Western influence of ISIS into countries including France, the U.S., Australia, and Turkey. He recounts theNovember 2015 Paris attacksand response to the incident. He provides the reader with a basis of ISIS operations within countries in Asia, states in the region of the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan, andArab states of the Persian Gulf.[1][2][3]

The book describes the terrorist group's attempts to remake the world through jihad. Nance grounds the reader within the context ofIslamic history,including theBattle of Nahrawan,controversy regardingShia–Sunni relations,evolution of theQarmatians,and theMahdist War.Defeating ISISdetails tactics of ISIS manipulation including psychological manipulation,behavior modification,and brainwashing. Nance writes that these strategies lead to gross violations of human rights, including sexual assault andchild soldiers.Defeating ISISdescribes ISIS combat tactics, with analysis of their armaments. Nance writes that ISIS usually engages in the military tactics of mountain warfare and frontal assault, later encouraging each other through social media discussing their combat operations.[1][2][3]

Defeating ISISconcludes with a strategy proposed by the author to weaken the organization both their combat operations and their ability to garner new followers. Nance lays forth a four-point plan, including: combat strategy with increased incorporation of airpower and special forces units, tactics to combat ISIS over the Internet, revitalization of theSyrian Armed Forces,and enlisting increased support from Arab world countries.[1][2][4]

Research and writing

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Malcolm Nance, author ofDefeating ISIS

Malcolm Nance is a retiredcryptology analyst.[5][6][7]He garnered expertise within the field of intelligence analysis.[8][9][10]Nance served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, from 1981 to 2001.[11][12]He devoted years researching Middle East terrorism.[13]Nance founded a company providing advice to U.S. Special Operations, and created a survival tactics training center.[11][12]He manages a think tank consisting ofCIAand counterterrorism officers.[10][12]His books on intelligence includeAn End to al-Qaeda,[14]Terrorist Recognition Handbook,[15]The Terrorists of Iraq,[16]The Plot to Hack America,[17]andHacking ISIS.[18]

Prior to his work onDefeating ISIS,Nance had already extensively researched the topic, while writing a treatise specifically geared for the intelligence community to educate them in textbook format on the growth over time ofAl-Qaeda in Iraq.[19]Defeating ISISwas contracted for publication withSkyhorse Publishingin November 2015, originally slated for a January 2017 release date.[20]

Publication

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Defeating ISISwas published in 2016 by Skyhorse Publishing in print format.[21]An e-book was published the same year.[22]It went through two more editions in 2016.[23][24]W. W. Norton & Companypublished another edition in 2017.[25]

Defeating ISISmadeThe New York TimesBest Seller listat number nine for the week of July 3, 2016, in the section for "E-Book Nonfiction".[26][27][8]U.S. PresidentDonald TrumptoldTime magazinehe readDefeating ISISwhile he was a candidate for president in July 2016.[28][29]

Reception

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U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigationsretired Colonel Millard E. Moon reviewed the book forJournal of Strategic Security,and wrote, "Nance offers a compelling argument to support the concept of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a cult set apart from the Islamic religion."[1]Moon said that, "Nance has done a really good job of providing detailed information about the growth and activities of ISIS components".[1]He praised the author's ability to structure the book as a reference resource, writing, "there is a wealth of factual information on ISIS".[1]As for the religious nature of the organization, Moon acknowledged, "Malcolm Nance does an excellent job of outlining what ISIS believes".[1]Moon concluded, "This book is a good reference source for anyone in the professional field and for individuals seeking to understand the enemy and what we and our allies face."[1]

Current Affairsjournalist Adam Patterson called the book "One of the more intelligent, incisive mass-market books on ISIS."[2]Patterson emphasized, "The central value of Nance's work is ultimately written into its title.Defeating ISISoutlines that the jihadi group can, with intelligent application of diplomatic and counterinsurgency methods, be eventually defeated. "[2]Rachel Maddowreferenced this book as a source she used to educate herself about ISIS.[30]The book received a negative review by Paul Monk inThe Australian.[31]Monk criticized the writing style, and disputed Nance's view that ISIS wished "to destroy Islam".[31]The Guardiannational security reporterSpencer Ackermanpraised the author's expertise, citing the caliber of his worksThe Terrorists of IraqandDefeating ISIS.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijkMoon, Millard E. (2016),"Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe. By Malcolm Nance, Foreword by Richard Engel. New York, N.Y.: Skyhorse Publishing Company, 2016.",Journal of Strategic Security,9(2): 125–128,doi:10.5038/1944-0472.9.2.1530,retrievedJune 8,2017
  2. ^abcdefghPatterson, Adam (October 23, 2016), Robinson, Nathan J. (ed.),"The ISIS hysteria industry",Current Affairs,retrievedJune 8,2017
  3. ^abcNance, Malcolm(2016),Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe,Skyhorse Publishing,ISBN978-1510711846
  4. ^Bennett, Cory (January 17, 2016),"Pentagon takes aim at ISIS hackers",The Hill,retrievedJune 8,2017
  5. ^Wolcott, James (March 21, 2017),"5 essential Twitter feeds for keeping up with Trump and Russia",Vanity Fair,retrievedJune 7,2017
  6. ^Cabanatuan, Michael (May 21, 2017),"Barbara Lee brings John Dean, Malcolm Nance to town hall meeting",San Francisco Chronicle,retrievedJune 7,2017
  7. ^Concha, Joe (February 18, 2017),"Maher: Russian election influence is worst political scandal in US history",The Hill,retrievedJune 7,2017
  8. ^abDonahue, Joe (January 5, 2017),"Counterterrorism Expert Malcolm Nance",WAMC,archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017,Malcolm Nance is a globally recognized counterterrorism expert and Intelligence Community member who has been deployed to intelligence operations in the Balkans, Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. He is the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller Defeating ISIS
  9. ^Devega, Chauncey (March 14, 2017),"Intelligence expert Malcolm Nance on Trump scandal: 'As close to Benedict Arnold as we're ever going to get'",Salon,retrievedJune 7,2017
  10. ^abHobson, Jeremy (October 12, 2016),"How Hackable Is The Election?",Here and Now,WBUR,retrievedJune 7,2017
  11. ^abLamb, Brian(April 28, 2017),"Q&A with Malcolm Nance",C-SPAN(video),retrievedJune 7,2017
  12. ^abcJones, Layla A. (March 10, 2017),"Philly native is media expert on intelligence",The Philadelphia Tribune,retrievedJune 7,2017
  13. ^Lipkin, Michael (October 10, 2016),"The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election",New York Journal of Books,retrievedJune 7,2017
  14. ^Nance, Malcolm (2010),An End to al-Qaeda: Destroying Bin Laden's Jihad and Restoring America's Honor,St. Martin's Press,ISBN978-0312592493
  15. ^Nance, Malcolm (2013),Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities,CRC Press,ISBN978-1466554573
  16. ^Nance, Malcolm (2014),The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014,CRC Press,ISBN978-1498706896
  17. ^Nance, Malcolm(October 10, 2016),The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election,Skyhorse Publishing,p. 216,ISBN978-1510723320
  18. ^Nance, Malcolm (2017),Hacking ISIS: How to Destroy the Cyber Jihad,Skyhorse Publishing,ISBN978-1510718920
  19. ^Scully, Steve(March 13, 2016),"U.S. Strategy Against ISIS",Washington Journal,C-SPAN,retrievedJune 8,2017
  20. ^Milliot, Jim (November 20, 2015),"Partnerships, New Hires Boost Skyhorse Publishing",Publishers Weekly,retrievedJune 8,2017
  21. ^Online Computer Library Center(2016), "Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe – 2016 print edition",WorldCat,OCLC952056725
  22. ^Online Computer Library Center(2016), "Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe – 2016 e-book edition",WorldCat,OCLC944244390
  23. ^Online Computer Library Center(2016), "Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe – 2016 print, 2nd edition",WorldCat,OCLC956483659
  24. ^Online Computer Library Center(2016), "Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe – 2016 print, 3rd edition",WorldCat,OCLC931642026
  25. ^Online Computer Library Center(2016), "Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe – 2017 print edition",WorldCat,OCLC980515128
  26. ^"The New York TimesBest Seller list; E-Book Nonfiction; New this week; Defeating ISIS by Malcolm Nance ",The New York Times Best Seller list,July 3, 2016,retrievedJune 8,2017
  27. ^Capehart, Jonathan(August 1, 2016),"There's no stopping a thin-skinned President Trump from going nuclear",The Washington Post,retrievedJune 8,2017,Malcolm Nance, a counterterrorism and intelligence consultant who runs the Terror Asymmetrics Project and is author of the New York Times bestseller 'Defeating ISIS: Who they are, how they fight, what they believe.'
  28. ^Meacham, Jon(July 25, 2016),"Cover Story: Gut Check – Donald Trump – What a President Needs to Know",Time,vol. 188, no. 4, p. 42,ISSN0040-781X,retrievedJune 19,2017,When he reads books, he says, he reads quickly. He likes biographies of Lincoln, Nixon and Reagan and recently read Edward Klein's hostile books on the Clintons andDefeating ISISby Malcolm Nance.
  29. ^Colmes, Alan(August 12, 2016),"Nance: ISIS Is Being Torn Apart",The Alan Colmes Show,archived fromthe originalon 2017-10-12,retrievedJune 8,2017,Nance told Alan Donald Trump is not seeing how his words are playing out beyond the rallies he shouts them. Nance also said that ISIS is being torn apart month by month, that even the Taliban wants to see ISIS destroyed, and if Donald Trump really read Nance's book as he claims, then he would know why President Obama uses 'ISIL' and not 'ISIS.'
  30. ^Chotiner, Isaac (April 11, 2016),"Rachel Maddow Always Believed in Bernie Sanders",Slate,retrievedJune 8,2017,Malcolm Nance has this new book out about defeating ISIS. It's not like a prose book. It's like an encyclopedia.
  31. ^abMonk, Paul (November 5, 2016),"Review: Robert Manne's Mind of the Islamic State deserves a wide audience",The Australian,retrievedJune 8,2017
  32. ^Bisley, Alexander (April 27, 2017),"Q&A: Malcolm Nance on U.S. security and ISIS, a future 'ghost caliphate'",Maclean's,retrievedJune 8,2017

Further reading

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