Since Friday’s deplorable and tragic events in Paris, the French leader, President Francois Hollande has commented he is committed to “destroying” Islamic State (ISIS) and described the attacks in Paris as an “act of war” and that France is now “at war.” Hollande has also stated that France will seek to extend emergency powers and also intensify its military campaign in Iraq and Syria. This comes after French Jets dropped 20 guided bombs targeting an ISIS command centre. Hollande also wants to unite with the US and Russia in a grand coalition dedicated to fight IS.

As world leaders continue to grapple with an agreed way to respond to the unprecedented rise of Islamic extremists and the dreadful atrocity in Paris on Friday evening, we must ask the question – how did ISIS come to exist in the first place? Was IS created by the very people who now want to destroy them?

Since 2010, Islamic State has been led by Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who claims to be a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad. Baghdadi lived In Bagdad, where he studied for a PhD in Islam before becoming a cleric. The jihadi, radical extremists have grown considerably and expanded rapidly, with a number of other groupings subsequently pledging allegiance to ISIS. The term ISIS came into being in April 2013. It wasn’t until June 2014 that IS became internationally known as they seized large areas in Iraq and Syria and continued their advance. ISIS use a radical interpretation of the Qur’an to justify their actions. ISIS have engaged in some hideous and brutal crimes including indiscriminate murder, as witnessed in Paris, public executions such as beheadings and mass genocide against civilians in Iraq and Syria. From the summer of 2014, a series of horrific killings were carried out by a masked radical militant known as “Jihadi John” giving IS massive public attention. A drone attack last Thursday evening was believed to have killed “Jihadi John” potentially sparking off the Paris massacre. ISIS thrive on using fear. In Iraq and Syria, not submitting to ISIS can lead to crucification. In public, even smoking tobacco can lead to fingers being severed by the organisation.

It is stated by many that the US contributed to the rise of ISIS, according to Angela Keaton (anti war.com) ISIS is “entirely a creation of the US’ behaviour in Iraq.” It has been claimed that ISIS are direct descendants from Al Qaeda, the ruthless Iraqi terrorist organisation led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who took advantage of the disorder and dissatisfaction amongst the Sunnis in Iraq after the 2003 US invasion to set up this group. George Bush talked of “reconstructing” Iraq and instead this led to violent conflict and an intensification and subsequent growth of Al Qaeda. During the Iraq War, Baghdadi was arrested and jailed twice by the US in Camp Becca – it is believed, that here, Baghdadi allied with Islamic extremists became radical in his ideological beliefs – his anti US views exasperated and he wanted to overthrow Iraqi rule and create an Islamic State. During the Anbar Awakening Sunnis were recruited to fight militants such as Al Qaeda, subsequently driving them out of much of the territory they controlled. In 2009 as the US were withdrawing from Iraq, Baghdadi was handed over to the Iraq Government who subsequently released him. US policies in Iraq during their occupation exasperated problems. They destabilised Iraq, destroyed the existing infrastructure, destroyed Iraqi society as they struggled to contain the sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunnis. Sunni extremists waged a terror campaign sending the nation into chaos. Under the US supported Shia government led by Prime Minister Maliki, he clamped down severely on the country’s Sunnis and waged a sectarian campaign to consolidate power, betraying his promises to share power. Days after being welcomed by President Obama at the Whitehouse, Maliki returned to Bagdad to arrest Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, with US weaponry, but failed. Baghdadi took advantage of the Sunni civil disobedience and the subsequent revolt, liberated jailed Sunni’s and took them into their organisation. ISIS were to return to Iraq and gradually grow strong to challenge the Maliki government.

In 2011 the Arab Spring reached Syria. The Bashar Al Assad regime refused to step down. Assad ruled with an iron fist and subsequently this led to armed revolt – a Civil War. The Syrian Civil War became ideal fertile ground to regrow ISIS. Baghdadi took advantage of this and expanded ISIS into Syria with the objective of over throwing the Assad regime. During this genocide 200,000 Syrians were murdered and millions displaced. During the Syrian Civil War, Turkey, Qatar and the USA supported the Nusra Front. In 2012, the USA were supplying weapons for distribution to Syrian Rebels. CNN has previously reported, “these weapons were funded and organised by the CIA.” These same weapons were to end up in the hands of ISIS. In April 2013, ISIS announced that the Nursa Front in Syria was affiliated with Al-Qeada and the two would work together in Iraq and Syria. By June 2014, it was reported that the Nursa Front had merged into ISIS and provided 15000 additional soldiers to continue the push across Western Iraq. It is alleged the US government are sending $500 million to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to fight ISIS – it is commonly known the FSA is one of the biggest suppliers of weapons to ISIS.

The main aim of ISIS is to create a holy land for Muslims – a Caliphate – led by a “caliph”. This state would be a homogenous Sunni Muslim State, that would control the areas they now exist in, Iraq and Syria. They have resurrected this aim that dates back to the 7^th Century, after the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

Since 2012, ISIS have seized large areas of Iraq and have moved east into Syria. In the process, they collect taxes from the people to fund its war and have seized oil wells. It is alleged $2 million a day is made selling oil – but who is buying this oil? In 2014 it was estimated their cash assets were $875 million. ISIS have apparently strong support amongst the Gulf countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. As ISIS advance in Iraq and Syria, refugees have fled the country. Coupled with this the Iraq and Syrian militaries have engaged in conflict with ISIS. It is estimated that 20,000 fighters from over 90 countries have traveled to join IS. Over 500 are estimated to have come from the UK.

The US, France and Britain are now subsumed in trying to eliminate ISIS, particularly now as Western Europe and the US become a threat of ISIS attack. ISIS have grown at a considerable rate, thanks to US military equipment they were able to seize, much equipment left in Iraq after the US left. The US Governments reaction was questionable as they were aware IS were using the equipment to fight Assad in Syria, something the US wanted. So, have the US contributed to the rise of the group they now want to destroy?

Since 2014, France has launched an estimated 200 air strikes in Iraq. The US have been estimated to have launched nearly 6,400 air strikes in Syria and Iraq. Former US Defence Secretary, Panetta has stated to defeat IS, it could take a “30 year War”. This perhaps illustrates why Obama has reluctantly said he will not be sending in US ground troops to fight ISIS. I read recently that the US government are a victim of their own “insane policies”, “they are very good at blowing things up, but really bad at putting things together.” How successful have the US, France and Britain been in tackling ISIS, that is the question?

As world leaders now consider an increased military campaign against ISIS, they should consider the largely fruitless engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. Is it really possible for world leaders to defeat ISIS by bombing Iraq and Syria?

IS exist because the circumstances were there for them to exist. Is it ever going to be possible for circumstances to change and a reason for their non-existence?