Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick

The Washington Post journalist, Joby Warrick, released his well-known book, Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, in 2015. This extensive study examines the growth and ascension of the Islamic State (ISIS). Warrick traces the group’s history and provides an in-depth look at its leaders, followers, and ideologies. In this 1000-word article, we will provide an overview of Joby Warrick’s “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS.”

In Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, Joby Warrick provides an intricate and in-depth look at the emergence of ISIS and examines the complex history of the Islamic State. Starting with the first inkles of unrest in the Middle East following the US invasion of Iraq, Warrick explains how the initial Iraqi militant network, formerly called al Qaeda in Iraq, ultimately grew into what we now know as the Islamic State.

Warrick reviews the story of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his beginning stages of creating the ISIS caliphate, noting his extreme violence and aggression against Shiite populations, Iraqi citizens, and Westerners. Warrick then shifts his focus to the Islamic State leadership, highlighting such figures as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who has carried on al-Zarqawi’s legacy, and Abu Ali al-Anbari who was responsible for ISIS’s sophisticated recruitment methods.

In addition to its focus on leadership, Black Flags delves into the members of ISIS. Warrick provides a comprehensive overview of the motivations underlying those who join the Islamic State, from financial incentive, to the appeal of a strict Islamic society, a desire to “join the fight,” and other reasons. Warrick also examines the roles of women and children within the Islamic State, and delves into the prevalence of foreign fighters joining the caliphate.

The bulk of Black Flags is devoted to ISIS’s strategies, strategies that have helped the group to remain viable and continue their crusade despite military and political opposition. Warrick explains the group’s expansive and effective propaganda machine, examining their production of videos, magazines, and tweets, as well as their use of celebrity endorsements. He also discusses ISIS’s use of oil revenue, the taxation of citizens under their rule, and the exploitation of antiquities.

Finally, Warrick concludes Black Flags by discussing the various forces in opposition to ISIS, including the US-led coalition airstrikes, Kurdish forces, and Shiite militias, and explores the counter-terrorism strategies that have proven most effective in fighting the Islamic State. In addition, Warrick highlights the historical forces that formed ISIS and that still contribute to its sustained success.

Overall, Joby Warrick’s book, Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, is a well-researched and exhaustive examination of the history and structure of the Islamic State. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of one of the most powerful and influential terrorist groups of our time.