The History and Future of ISIS: A Review of Black Flags by Joby Warrick
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS downloads torrent
If you are interested in learning more about one of the most notorious terrorist groups in history, you might want to read Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick. This book is a Pulitzer Prize-winning account of how ISIS emerged from obscurity to become a global threat. In this article, we will tell you what this book is about, why it is important to read it, and how you can download it for free. We will also discuss the main themes, the author's perspective, and the reception and impact of the book.
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS downloads torrent
Introduction
What is Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS?
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS is a non-fiction book written by Joby Warrick, a journalist and national security reporter for The Washington Post. It was published in 2015 by Doubleday. The book traces the origins and evolution of ISIS, also known as Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh, from its roots in Jordan to its expansion in Iraq and Syria. It also examines the role of the US and other countries in the rise of ISIS, as well as the challenges and threats posed by ISIS to the world. The book is based on extensive interviews with intelligence officials, diplomats, military commanders, activists, and former members of ISIS.
Why is it important to read this book?
This book is important to read because it provides a comprehensive and compelling narrative of how ISIS came to be and what it stands for. It also reveals the mistakes and miscalculations that enabled ISIS to grow and spread its influence. By reading this book, you will gain a deeper understanding of the history, ideology, strategy, and tactics of ISIS. You will also learn about the people behind ISIS, such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. You will also discover how ISIS affects the lives of millions of people in the Middle East and beyond.
How to download the book for free?
If you want to download this book for free, you can use a torrent site such as The Pirate Bay. A torrent site is a platform that allows users to share files over a peer-to-peer network. You will need a torrent client such as BitTorrent or uTorrent to download files from a torrent site. Here are the steps to download Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS from The Pirate Bay:
Go to The Pirate Bay website.
Type Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS in the search box and click on "Pirate Search".
Select the file that has the most seeders and leechers. Seeders are users who have the complete file and are sharing it with others. Leechers are users who are downloading the file but have not completed it yet. The more seeders and leechers a file has, the faster the download speed will be.
Click on the magnet link or the "Get this torrent" button. This will open your torrent client and start the download process.
Wait for the download to finish. You can check the progress and status of your download on your torrent client.
Once the download is complete, you can open the file and enjoy reading the book.
The main themes of the book
The origins and evolution of ISIS
One of the main themes of the book is how ISIS originated and evolved over time. The book shows that ISIS is not a new phenomenon, but a product of decades of political, social, and religious turmoil in the Middle East. The book traces the roots of ISIS to Jordan, where a radical Islamist named Abu Musab al-Zarqawi founded a group called Tawhid and Jihad in the late 1990s. Zarqawi was a violent and charismatic leader who sought to overthrow the Jordanian monarchy and establish an Islamic state. He also had a hatred for Shiites, whom he considered heretics and apostates.
The book follows Zarqawi's journey from Jordan to Afghanistan, where he met Osama bin Laden and joined al-Qaeda, to Iraq, where he waged a brutal insurgency against the US-led coalition and the Iraqi government after the 2003 invasion. Zarqawi's group became known as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), and was responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in Iraq, such as the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, the beheading of American journalist Nicholas Berg, and the bombing of Shiite shrines in Karbala and Najaf.
The book also describes how Zarqawi's group transformed into ISIS after his death in 2006 by a US airstrike. Zarqawi was succeeded by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a former Iraqi prisoner who claimed to be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. Baghdadi rebranded AQI as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), and expanded its operations to Syria, where a civil war erupted in 2011. Baghdadi took advantage of the chaos and violence in Syria to recruit fighters, seize territory, and establish a caliphate, or an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. In 2013, Baghdadi announced that ISI had merged with another jihadist group in Syria called Jabhat al-Nusra, and renamed his group as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). However, this move was rejected by al-Nusra and al-Qaeda, leading to a split and a rivalry among the jihadist factions.
The book also explains how ISIS grew in power and influence by exploiting the sectarian divisions, political grievances, and economic hardships of the Sunni populations in Iraq and Syria. ISIS portrayed itself as the defender of Sunnis against the oppression of Shiite-dominated governments in Baghdad and Damascus, as well as against foreign interference from Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the US. ISIS also attracted followers from around the world by using sophisticated propaganda techniques, such as social media, videos, magazines, and radio broadcasts. ISIS also generated revenue from various sources, such as oil smuggling, extortion, kidnapping, taxation, looting, and trafficking.
The role of the US and other countries in the rise of ISIS
Another theme of the book is how the US and other countries contributed to the rise of ISIS through their actions or inactions. The book argues that the US made several mistakes that enabled ISIS to emerge and thrive, such as:
Invading Iraq in 2003 without a clear plan for post-war reconstruction and stability.
Disbanding the Iraqi army and de-Baathification policy that alienated and marginalized millions of Sunnis who had served under Saddam Hussein's regime.
Failing to prevent or contain the sectarian violence that erupted after Zarqawi's attacks on Shiites.
Supporting Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister of Iraq despite his authoritarian and sectarian policies that fueled resentment among Sunnis.
Withdrawing US troops from Iraq in 2011 without ensuring a lasting security agreement or political reconciliation.
Underestimating ISIS as a "junior varsity" team that posed no threat to US interests or allies.
Delaying or limiting military intervention against ISIS in Iraq and Syria until it was too late to stop its expansion.
The book also criticizes other countries for their roles in facilitating or failing to counter ISIS, such as:
Syria: Allowing ISIS to operate and expand in its territory as a way to divert attention and resources from the opposition forces and to justify its brutal crackdown on the civil war.
Iran: Supporting the Shiite militias and the Assad regime in Iraq and Syria, which increased the sectarian tensions and violence that drove Sunnis to join or support ISIS.
Turkey: Turning a blind eye to the flow of foreign fighters, weapons, and oil across its border with Syria, which enabled ISIS to recruit and sustain its operations.
Saudi Arabia: Funding and arming Sunni extremist groups in Syria, such as al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, which shared ideological and operational links with ISIS.
Russia: Intervening militarily in Syria in 2015, not to fight ISIS, but to prop up the Assad regime and target the moderate opposition forces that were supported by the US and its allies.
The challenges and threats posed by ISIS to the world
The final theme of the book is how ISIS poses serious challenges and threats to the world, both regionally and globally. The book illustrates how ISIS has destabilized and devastated Iraq and Syria, as well as neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Israel. The book also shows how ISIS has inspired or orchestrated terrorist attacks in various countries, such as France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the US. The book also warns how ISIS could pose a nuclear threat if it acquires or builds a dirty bomb or a crude nuclear device.
The book also analyzes the potential scenarios and strategies for defeating or containing ISIS. The book argues that there is no easy or quick solution to the problem of ISIS, and that any effective response would require a comprehensive and coordinated approach that addresses not only the military aspect, but also the political, economic, social, and ideological dimensions. The book suggests that some of the possible steps to counter ISIS include:
Forming a broad coalition of regional and international actors that share a common interest and vision in defeating ISIS.
Supporting the legitimate and inclusive governments and institutions in Iraq and Syria that can provide security, services, and representation to their people.
Empowering the local forces and communities that are willing and able to fight against ISIS on the ground.
Cutting off the sources of funding and support for ISIS from within and outside the region.
Countering the propaganda and narrative of ISIS that appeal to its followers and sympathizers.
Addressing the root causes and grievances that fuel the radicalization and recruitment of ISIS.
The author's perspective and insights
Who is Joby Warrick and what are his credentials?
Joby Warrick is an American journalist and author who has been covering national security issues for The Washington Post since 1996. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting on intelligence failures before the Iraq war in 2004, and on the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS in 2016. He has also written another book called The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole who Infiltrated the CIA, which was published in 2011. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Temple University and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
How did he research and write the book?
Warrick researched and wrote the book over a period of three years, from 2012 to 2015. He conducted hundreds of interviews with intelligence officials, diplomats, military commanders, activists, journalists, academics, former members of ISIS, and ordinary people who witnessed or experienced the events described in the book. He also traveled to several countries in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa to gather firsthand information and insights. He also consulted various sources of documents, reports, books, articles, videos, audios, transcripts, maps, charts, timelines, and databases related to ISIS.
What are his main arguments and conclusions?
Warrick's main arguments and conclusions are that:
ISIS is not a spontaneous or inevitable phenomenon, but a product of human choices and actions that could have been prevented or mitigated.
ISIS is not a monolithic or homogeneous entity, but a complex and diverse organization that has different factions, motivations, and goals.
ISIS is not a static or stagnant entity, but a dynamic and adaptive organization that has changed and evolved over time.
ISIS is not an isolated or self-contained entity, but a connected and interactive organization that has influenced and been influenced by the regional and global environment.
ISIS is not an invincible or unstoppable entity, but a vulnerable and defeatable organization that has weaknesses and challenges.
The reception and impact of the book
How did the critics and readers react to the book?
The book received mostly positive reviews from the critics and readers. The book was praised for its depth, clarity, accuracy, relevance, and readability. The book was also commended for its balanced, nuanced, and objective perspective that avoided sensationalism, bias, or oversimplification. The book was also appreciated for its human stories that brought the characters and events to life. Some of the accolades and awards that the book received include:
The Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2016.
The PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction in 2016.
The Lionel Gelber Prize for International Affairs in 2016.
The Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest in 2015.
The New York Times Notable Book of 2015.
The Washington Post Notable Book of 2015.
The Economist Best Book of 2015.
Some of the criticisms and limitations that the book faced include:
The lack of access or verification of some of the sources, especially those from inside ISIS or from hostile regimes.
The focus on the US perspective and role, while neglecting or downplaying other perspectives and roles from other actors.
The omission or glossing over of some of the aspects or dimensions of ISIS, such as its ideology, theology, governance, administration, justice, education, health, culture, media, etc.
The difficulty or impossibility of keeping up with the fast-changing and unpredictable developments and events related to ISIS.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
Some of the strengths of the book are:
Its comprehensive and compelling narrative that covers the history, evolution, strategy, tactics, and impact of ISIS.
Its extensive and rigorous research that draws on multiple sources of information and insights.
Its balanced and nuanced perspective that avoids sensationalism, bias, or oversimplification.
Its human stories that bring the characters and events to life.
Some of the weaknesses of the book are:
Its lack of access or verification of some of the sources, especially those from inside ISIS or from hostile regimes.
Its focus on the US perspective and role, while neglecting or downplaying other perspectives and roles from other actors.
Its omission or glossing over of some of the aspects or dimensions of ISIS, such as its ideology, theology, governance, administration, justice, education, health, culture, media, etc.
Its difficulty or impossibility of keeping up with the fast-changing and unpredictable developments and events related to ISIS.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick is a non-fiction book that traces the origins and evolution of ISIS from its roots in Jordan to its expansion in Iraq and Syria. It also examines the role of the US and other countries in the rise of ISIS, as well as the challenges and threats posed by ISIS to the world. The book is based on extensive interviews with intelligence officials, diplomats, military commanders, activists, former members of ISIS, and ordinary people who witnessed or experienced the events described in the book. The book provides a comprehensive and compelling narrative of how ISIS came to be and what it stands for. It also reveals the mistakes and miscalculations that enabled ISIS to grow and spread its influence. The book is important to read because it provides a deeper understanding of the history, ideology, strategy, tactics, and impact of ISIS. It also suggests some possible steps to counter ISIS in a comprehensive and coordinated way.
Recommendations for further reading
If you enjoyed reading this book and want to learn more about ISIS or related topics, you might want to check out these books:
The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State by William McCants. This book explores the ideology, theology, and prophecy of ISIS, and how it shapes its strategy and tactics. It also analyzes the internal dynamics and divisions of ISIS, and how it responds to external pressures and challenges.
The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State by Graeme Wood. This book is based on interviews with ISIS supporters, sympathizers, and defectors from around the world. It examines the motivations, beliefs, and aspirations of those who join or support ISIS, and how they justify their actions and views.
ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan. This book provides a detailed account of the history, structure, operations, and impact of ISIS. It also exposes the role of regional and international actors in enabling or countering ISIS.
The Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni Revolution by Patrick Cockburn. This book offers a historical and geopolitical perspective on the rise of ISIS and its implications for the Middle East and the world. It also criticizes the failures and contradictions of the US and its allies in dealing with ISIS.
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick. This book traces the origins and evolution of ISIS from its roots in Jordan to its expansion in Iraq and Syria. It also examines the role of the US and other countries in the rise of ISIS, as well as the challenges and threats posed by ISIS to the world.
Call to action for the readers
We hope that you found this article informative and useful. If you want to read Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick, you can download it for free from a torrent site such as The Pirate Bay. However, we advise you to be careful and cautious when using torrent sites, as they may contain viruses, malware, or illegal content. You should also respect the intellectual property rights of the author and publisher, and consider buying a copy of the book if you can afford it. You can also share your thoughts and opinions about the book or this article in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick:
Q: How long is Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS? A: The book is 368 pages long in print format, and 13 hours and 33 minutes long in audio format.
Q: What is the genre of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS? A: The book is a non-fiction book that belongs to the genre of history, politics, journalism, or current affairs.
Q: Who is the target audience of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS? A: The book is intended for anyone who is interested in learning more about ISIS or related topics, such as terrorism, extremism, Islamism, Middle East, or national security.
Q: What are some of the main sources that Joby Warrick used for writing Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS? charts, timelines, and databases related to ISIS.
Q: What are some of the main lessons or takeaways from Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS? A: Some of the main lessons or takeaways from the book are that:
ISIS is not a spontaneous or inevitable phenomenon, but a product of human choices and actions th