Final Paper Develop a Thesis, Outline, and Annotated Bibliography: Countering the ISIS/ISIL Threat

Throughout this course you have studied various terrorist groups and intelligence capability to counter the threats posed by these groups. For this project, review one of the following news websites to gain a thorough understanding of ISIS/ISIL terrorist group: 

• ABC News. (2015, February 23) ISIS: Trail of terror. Retrieved from: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/fullpage/isis-trail-terror-isis-threat-us-25053190
• Al-Jazeera America. (n.d.). Iraq in turmoil. Retrieved from: http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/international-location/middle-east/iraq.html
• CBS News. (n.d.). The fight against ISIS. Retrieved from: http://www.cbsnews.com/isis/
• CNN News (n.d.) ISIS. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/search/?text=ISIS
• Fox News (n.d.) ISIS. Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/category/world/isis

Then, select two of the following Congressional Research Service Reports (Note Week 5 Readings). Read the Introductions and Summaries of each report. 

• Archick, K., Belkin, P., Blanchard, C., Humud C., & Mix, D. (2015, April 27). European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, responses, and Issues for the United States. Congressional Research Service, Washington D.C. Retrieved from: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R44003.pdf
• Blanchard, C., Humud C., Katzman K., & Weed, M. (2015, June 11). The Islamic State: Crisis and U.S. Policy. Congressional Research Service, Washington D.C. Retrieved from: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R43612.pdf
• Blanchard, C., Humud C., & Nikitin, M. (2015, July 2015). Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response. Congressional Research Service, Washington D.C. Retrieved from: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33487.pdf
• Humud, C., Pirog, R., & Rosen, L. (2015, April 10).Islamic State Financing and U.S. Policy Approaches. Congressional Research Service, Washington D.C. Retrieved from: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R43980.pdf

Using the knowledge you have learned in this course evaluating various terrorist groups and the threat they pose, use the Intelligence Cycle (Note Week Two, readings and forums) to help demonstrate your understanding of the threat posed by ISIS to the America. Develop an intelligence request and provide recommendations to law enforcement agencies from the Department of Homeland Security on how to counter the ISIS/ISIL threat. Your Final Project must address the following:

1. Understanding the Threat. Summarize who ISIS/ISIL is and why ISIS/ISIL is a threat to America.
2. Intelligence Assets and Capability. Based on the threat, select three intelligence agencies to generate actionable intelligence on ISIS/ISIL. Describe the capabilities of the intelligence asset and the type of intelligence gathered by the intelligence agency. Finally, explain how the combination of the three intelligence assets will work together to provide a better understanding of the threat, the methods, and capabilities of ISIS/ISIL.
3. Develop a Request For Intelligence (RFI). Based on your analysis of the threat, voids in intelligence on the threat, and the available intelligence assets, develop a specific request for intelligence (RFI) from the appropriate intelligence agencies to identify future intelligence requirements.
4. DHS Recommendations to Law Enforcement Agencies. Provide a minimum of two recommendations from DHS to law enforcement agencies to adjust operations to counter the ISIS/ISIL threat to America.

The Final Project:

• Must be a minimum of eight double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA.
• Must include a title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
• Must use at least five scholarly resources, including a minimum of two from the Ashford University Library.
• Must document all sources in APA style.
• Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA.