Introduction
The article that was selected for analysis is titled “Captured ISIS Fighters’ Refrain: ‘I Was Only a Cook’” by Rod Norland, and it was published in The New York Times International on October 1, 2017. Norland describes how the Kurdish forces in Iraq are dealing with a recent influx of possible ISIS fighters who attempt to flee the battlefield under the guise of refugees. He uses a variety of vivid images and descriptive text to create a more personal perspective on the process.
Throughout the article, Norland uses those images to elicit an emotional response from the reader, while describing a few scenarios that he encountered. This paper will provide an analysis of the images and scenarios that the author utilizes in the article.
Images and Tone
The first rhetorical strategy can be seen at the very beginning of the article. The first paragraph describes the suspected ISIS fighters as “dirty and disheveled” (Nordland). These descriptors create a judgmental tone that can be felt throughout the article. However, the descriptors are not inaccurate, as the photographs confirm that the condition of the suspected ISIS militants and the checkpoint that they come to is poor. Therefore, it seems evident that the author is attempting to paint a realistic image of the situation. The quality of the floor, types of clothing, and positions in which the suspects sat were all described in detail, creating a vivid image of the conditions there. The author describes multiple encounters and all of them receive the same level of detail.
The author justifies his use of a judgmental tone, however. Throughout the article, Norland reminds the reader that the majority of the people he is writing about have a high chance of being actual members of ISIS who were involved in beheadings and other atrocities (Nordland). The strategy of logos is used, but indirectly. The author does not state that he judges the suspects but instead uses the clarifications about their potential involvement with ISIS to justify a less impartial approach to the text, despite there being a chance of false accusations.
Scenarios
The previously mentioned images are used to enhance the description of scenarios present in the article. One of the scenarios describes a short scene from an interrogation where the interrogators try to get a confession from a suspect while threatening him with a pipe. The prisoner’s arms are tied behind his back with a scarf because plastic cuffs have not arrived yet. The suspect eventually says the titular line of the article, “I was only a cook,” to which the lieutenant responds with a laugh because they have already apprehended tens of others who were supposedly cooks (Nordland).
The scenario allows the reader to understand the desperation that these people feel as they try to come up with ideas to reduce their punishment but come up short. The reality is that they most likely were fighters but felt that defeat was inevitable and took their chances with surrendering to the Kurdish forces. The author does not tell that to the reader, but the scenario allows the reader to imagine the rest.
Another scenario explains why the suspects went to the Kurdish forces specifically. The scenario shows the commander of one of the Kurdish forces addressing the newly arrived group of suspects. Instead of judging them, or trying to instill fear, he assures them that no harm will be done to them and their families at this checkpoint. The author points out the sullen stares of the soldiers after the commander leaves to show that the soldiers still hold a grudge against the former ISIS fighters, but he then also points out how important the proper treatment of captives is for the Kurdish forces.
He then finishes the article by putting these events in context with the recent news of the Kurdish vote for independence. Norland points out that despite the vote, the army is not changing its stance on military cooperation against the ISIS forces in the region (Nordland). This scenario paints the Kurdish forces as dedicated and civil soldiers that restrain their anger in order to deal with the enemy properly.
Significance
Personally, I found the tone of the article slightly distracting. I am aware of how many horrible actions ISIS has taken (Bolon et al.; Chan; Callimachi et al.), and the tone felt off-putting or even slightly patronizing. However, the article is successful at capturing an important moment in the fight against ISIS in that region. This is the first time that members of ISIS have given up in such large numbers, and it could lead to the further surrender of their forces.
The vivid scenarios that the author describes are also new to me, as I have not previously read about how such interrogations are performed in the Middle East. The focus on the humane treatment of the captives is also important as it may inspire other members to surrender. The news from the past year has focused on the successes in the war against ISIS (Arango; Barnard), and I am glad to see some signs of the organization crumbles.
Conclusion
“Captured ISIS Fighters’ Refrain: ‘I Was Only a Cook’” by Rod Norland provides a look into the life of a military checkpoint controlled by the Kurdish forces. The use of detailed descriptions and vivid images by the author allows the reader to more accurately picture the way that interrogations of ISIS suspects are conducted. However, it also highlights the first steps toward the end of ISIS. Hopefully, in a year the acronym ISIS will be used only in the past tense.
Works Cited
Arango, Tim. “ISIS Loses Another City to U.S.-Backed Iraqi Forces.” The New York Times. 2017. NYTimes.com. Web.
Barnard, Anne. “After Losses in Syria and Iraq, ISIS Moves the Goal Posts.” The New York Times. 2016. NYTimes.com. Web.
Bolon, Anne-Sophie, et al. “Van Hits Pedestrians in Deadly Barcelona Terror Attack.” The New York Times. 2017. NYTimes.com. Web.
Callimachi, Rukmini, et al. “How the Paris Attackers Honed Their Assault Through Trial and Error.” The New York Times. 2015. NYTimes.com. Web.
Chan, Sewell. “Suspect in Stockholm Attack Was an ISIS Recruit, Uzbek Official Says.” The New York Times. 2017. NYTimes.com. Web.
Nordland, Rod. “Captured ISIS Fighters’ Refrain: ‘I Was Only a Cook.’” The New York Times. 2017. NYTimes.com. Web.