Al-Jazeera, Qatar, August 29
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Truth and understanding
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While the world continues to obsess with the Islamic State, I am convinced more than ever before that the real threat to world peace comes from an organization people were quick to eulogize: Al-Qa’ida. Yes, ISIS has been a dangerous organization that inflicted heavy losses and severe destruction on countries in our region. It has also been relatively successful at gathering supporters and recruiting new fighters around the world. But this success is a result of one thing: the organization’s victories on the ground. The Islamic State’s ability to form a so-called caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria galvanized hundreds of individuals to join its ranks. Yet these recruits were inspired by a shallow motivation; a desire to join an organization that seems on the rise. Today, it is clear beyond any doubt that ISIS will be defeated sooner or later. When the time comes, its large support base will die together with its forces on the ground. The movement and its supporters are grounded in no clear religious doctrine. I could not find a single religious text, issued by the Islamic State, which explains the movement’s theological underpinning. Al-Qa’ida, however, has been clear about its doctrine for years. The agenda it has propagated has been passed from one generation to another, across time and place. This is the major difference between the two movements: one wins the support of those who like guns, while the other wins the support of those who believe in its agenda. Fighting terrorism is easy; fighting ideas is virtually impossible. – Mohammad al-Sheikh