“In mid-October 2006 a coalition of Jihadi groups announced the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), an umbrella grouping which has established an embryonic state within a state (as the Taliban did in Afghanistan) based mainly in Anbar province but with a strong presence also in southern Baghdad, Diyala, Salah-al-Din, Niveneh and parts of Babil. The ISI comprises its predecessor the Mujahedin Shura Council, al Qaeda in Iraq, Haish al-Fatiheen, Jund al-Sahaba, Katbiyan Ansar al-Tawhid wal Sunnah and various tribal groups.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Abdel Bari Atwan, The Secret History of al Qaeda, Page 203